News

The Lehigh University/United Nations (LU/UN) Partnership will continue its year-long 20th anniversary celebration with two special events in honor of United Nations Day on Oct. 24.

The LU/UN Partnership 20th Anniversary Fair will be held that day from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. in the Business Innovation Building entryway. Later the same day, at 4:30 p.m., Lehigh will host a panel discussion featuring four U.N. officials, focused on student involvement and engagement with the United Nations.

Both events will mark United Nations Day, which commemorates the anniversary of the U.N. Charter’s ratification. The U.N. Charter, the organization's foundational treaty, came into effect on Oct. 24, 1945, following its ratification by the majority of signatories, including the five permanent members of the Security Council.

The LU/UN 20th Anniversary Fair will feature opportunities for students to learn about the LU/UN Youth Representative Program, the launch of the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals Pathway, and a chance to meet United Nations diplomats and staff. The event will also offer food, music, prizes, and chances to win free trips to the U.N. in New York.

Among the U.N. officials attending the fair will be Robert Skinner, Deputy Director and Chief of Partnerships and Global Engagement; Malgorzata Juszczak, Director of the United Nations Academic Impact; Jayashri Wyatt, Chief of Education Outreach; and others.

The fair will also introduce the world’s first U.N. Youth Representative Journal, titled Voices of the UNfolding Future. This journal provides accredited Youth Representatives with a platform to share their research and the advocacy work they have undertaken with non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

Details about the four panelists for the 4:30 p.m. event will be announced soon. The panel discussion, titled “Getting the United Nations on your Resume,” will highlight how students can contribute to the global mission of the U.N., according to Bill Hunter, Director of Fellowship Advising and U.N. Programs, and Lehigh’s primary representative to the United Nations. It will be held in Rauch 271, and is an approved 5 X 10 program.

The LU/UN Partnership 20th anniversary year-long celebration kicked off last month with a visit from Sergiy Kyslytsya, Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.N., who offered candid insights about the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Despite the limitations of the United Nations, Kyslytsya emphasized the importance of continued diplomatic efforts and global engagement.

The LU/UN Partnership provides opportunities for all Lehigh students, faculty, and staff to gain skills necessary to become successful global future makers by engaging with the U.N. via curricular and co-curricular initiatives.

“The Lehigh University/United Nations Partnership is our gateway to the U.N., providing opportunities for faculty, staff, and students alike to directly engage in U.N. conferences, briefings, workshops and meetings with Ambassadors,” Lehigh President Joseph J. Helble ‘82 said. “It’s been a deeply engaged partnership throughout its history.”

Each year, more than 1,000 Lehigh faculty, staff, and students attend U.N. conferences, high-level briefings, and private meetings with ambassadors and other U.N. officials in New York City and on campus. This year, the partnership placed its 60th student intern in a row at the United Nations.

The LU/UN Partnership offers myriad ways to engage the U.N., including the Youth Representatives Program, internships, class trips, faculty research presentations, the UNA-Lehigh Student Club, and more.

United Nations Day highlights the importance of the U.N. in fostering international peace, cooperation, human rights, and social and economic development. Various events, such as conferences, exhibitions, and educational programs, are organized worldwide to raise awareness about the UN's work and global issues.