Drew Announces UN Summer Program for HS Students
MADISON, NJ—This summer, 20 academically talented high school students will have the opportunity to experience the United Nations in a unique and exclusive way, and earn four college credits in the process. Drew University is offering a new program modeled on its popular UN semester, which has been offered annually by the university since the early 1960s. The summer program is open to rising high school juniors and seniors, as well as those who will graduate this spring.
“We’re going to be tying our curriculum into meetings and activities that will take place at the UN this summer,” said Carlos Yordan, a professor of political science who will run the summer UN program with Andrea Talentino, another Drew faculty member. “We expect that participants will have the opportunity to hear from high-ranking UN officials and spend time visiting the UN complex.”
The program will run on Mondays through Thursdays from July 9 through 29. On Mondays, lessons will be taught on the Drew campus in Madison, NJ, while Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays will be spent at the UN in New York City. While in NY, participants can expect to hear guest lectures from international diplomacy experts and practitioners; observe open meetings of high-ranking UN officials; visit think tanks and other non-governmental organizations located in New York; and spend time touring closed-to-the-public sections of the UN complex. While on the Drew campus, students will learn about the UN’s rich history and intricate workings. These activities are designed to help them develop college-level study, research and writing skills.
Yordan, who will lead the program, has been a member of the Drew faculty since 2005. He earned a BA in international studies and a MA in international peace and conflict resolution from American University in Washington, DC. He also holds a PhD in international relations from the London School of Economics in the United Kingdom. At Drew, he teaches courses on topics that include terrorism, U.S. national security policy and the Middle East.
Also teaching in the program will be Andrea Talentino, also a member of Drew’s political science faculty. Talentino came to Drew in 2005 after holding a faculty appointment at Tulane University. She holds a PhD in political science from UCLA and served as a post-doctoral fellow at Princeton University’s Center for International Studies. Talentino teaches at Drew about Africa’s role in international relations, the causes of war, intelligence and covert operations, American foreign policy, and international organizations.
Applications are available through the Drew summer program Web site: drew.edu/summer. For more information or to apply, please contact Trish LaPrey in Drew’s office of continuing education at 973/408-3618 or e-mail plaprey@drew.edu.
