Every spring, I get to take students to Washington, DC for the National University Model Arab League Conference. This conference is like Model UN, but for the States in the Arab League. Students get to research, debate, and collaborate on solutions for important issues in the Middle East and North Africa.
In 2025, the students decided to share some of their experiences in photos and short captions here.
The opening ceremonies for the conference were held in the Congressional Auditorium in the Capitol Building, where the students were excited to hear from H.E. Ambassador Sabri Boukadoum, Ambassador of Algeria to the United States, and Mr. Tom Staal, former USAID Mission Director in Lebanon. Dr. Glazier made sure to get lots of photos.
But here are the students own words and photos about our adventures!
We are so excited for this weekend, and we cannot wait to show you our adventures! Here are a few from our first couple of days here. A trip to the Capitol; the opening ceremony at the Congressional Auditorium with our Vice President and Social Affairs Chair, Bex Little and our fearless leader, Dr. Rebecca Glazier; the Library of Congress, a few of our members looking very patriotic; a lovely dinner at Melé; and a tired crew at Founding Farmers!😁
NUMAL 2025 Has Been Adjourned!
So, congratulations to our amazing team! Carlee Felty and Endalynn Seals were awarded Superior Delegation in Political Affairs; Jace Owens was awarded Superior Delegation in Environmental Affairs; our National Joint Defense Council Chair, Jack Stokes was awarded Outstanding Chair, AND he was selected as an Assistant Secretary General for NUMAL 2026!
And, congratulations to all of our delegates for their incredible hard work! They have done such a great job this year, and we are so excited for next year, when we will be representing Mauritania! A BIG thank you to our Head Delegate, Owen Haynes; our National Social Affairs Chair, Bex Little; and our Faculty Advisor/Fearless Leader, Dr. Rebecca Glazier who made this weekend possible!
Highlights from the Students
After a long day of boisterous debate and resolution writing followed by a lively dinner full of hilarious conversations with my fellow delegates, some of us went for a late-night stroll at the national mall to see the monuments. I’ve always found nighttime excursions like this to be magical, and some of my favorite photos over the years have been from these kinds of moments. This night, our last in D.C., was no exception. The warmth and comradery of my classmates throughout the semester created such a sense of family that they were the perfect companions for the outing and the memories I now have of it. The Model Arab League course is one of the most meaningful, impactful, and valuable experiences I’ve had in college, and Dr. Glazier is an enormous part of what makes it so amazing. Her teaching style is unlike any other, and I cannot recommend the class enough.
-Larry Rhodes, Applied Communication Major, Special Council on Technology and Development
I love D.C.! It provides such incredible networking opportunities; you speak to people from schools across the country. I am confident I wouldn’t have found such an incredible graduate program had it not been for Dr. Glazier and her team. I loved getting to travel with and know the UALR team better, too. I have known some of the UALR folks for over three years through SERMAL and NUMAL, and to get to spend time with and learn with them is just an amazing opportunity!
-Jack Stokes, Clinton School of Public Service, Joint Defense Council Chair
This was an awesome experience! -Endalynn Seals, Political Science Major, first year MAL participant, Council of Political Affairs, Winner of the Superior Delegation Award
Taking a night stroll at the Washington mall after the last day of session. -Carlee Felty, Political Science Major, first year MAL participant, Council of Political Affairs, Winner of the Superior Delegation Award
The Lincoln Memorial is my favorite DC monument. I was finally able to see it at night. It was nothing short of incredible. After 3 years of going to DC with MAL, and one more year to go, I’m reminded that through any adversity or social change MAL is equipping me to be the change I want to see in the world, to be a more engaged citizen, and giving me the tools to leave a positive impact on the world around me.
-Bex Little, Political Science and Nursing Major, Chair of the Social Affairs Committee
