Each spring, the Iowa High School Model United Nations (IHSMUN) conference brings together hundreds of students from across the state for an immersive educational experience on the University of Northern Iowa campus. This year marked a special milestone — Professor of History Konrad Sadkowski’s final year at the helm after 15 years of dedicated leadership.

“Konrad has been the animating force of the IHSMUN at UNI for more than a decade,” said Jennifer McNabb, head of the Department of History.

Over the years, he’s proven it: his energy and commitment have kept the program vibrant and impactful, even through challenges like declining attendance, the COVID-19 pandemic and the logistical complexities of organizing a conference.

Founded in 1966, IHSMUN simulates the operations of the United Nations. Its mission is to educate students about the workings of the UN and to inspire them to take an active role in shaping their world.

Originally held in the old Men’s Gymnasium, the conference now takes place in the Maucker Union, where students discuss current international issues, including politics, human rights, health, social concerns and the environment. They debate their peers, role-play representatives of UN member nations and hear keynote speeches from prominent figures like former Congressmen.

In 2025, nearly 30 high schools from across Iowa came to UNI to participate in the Model United Nations, gaining hands-on insight into the UN’s principles and operations through an immersive simulation.

Each year, UNI students help coordinate the conference, gaining many of the same skills as the high school participants — like critical thinking, communication, collaboration and negotiation — as they prepare discussion topics and write background guides. They also engage directly with high schoolers by chairing committees modeled on UN bodies and facilitating debate.

“That’s valuable experience right there, especially for our students in history and social science teaching programs,” said Sadkowski. “Those students are learning lessons to be more effective teachers.”

At this past spring’s conference, three recent UNI graduates and former IHSMUN participants, now high school teachers, returned with their own students.

“It’s very gratifying to see that those experiences for the UNI students translated into creating a Model UN group at the high school level, and then bringing those students to campus,” Sadkowski said.

During Sadkowski’s leadership of IHSMUN, more than 6,000 high school students have participated in the conference. Several hundred UNI students have also taken part, gaining valuable skills Sadkowski believes they continue to use today.

In just the past four years, between 17 and 20 UNI students have participated annually.

One of those students is Ben Morrison, a history education major who got involved as a freshman because the program aligned with his interests and career goals.

Morrison says his involvement has enhanced his education and given him opportunities to develop leadership skills by working with high school students.

And he credits Sadkowski.

“Konrad has been invaluable to IHSMUN, working behind the scenes and generally making all of our lives infinitely easier,” Morrison said. “He is the biggest reason why so many people that I consider to be some of my best friends came into my life, through his pitching of IHSMUN to fostering an environment that makes people want to continue to do it.”

Fellow advisors have also felt the impact of Sadkowski’s work. Rachel Hansen, ’23, history education specialist at the State Historical Society of Iowa, currently chairs the Iowa United Nations Association Faculty Advisors Committee and formerly advised the Model UN Club at Muscatine High School.
 

“Konrad has been instrumental in keeping Model UN going in the state of Iowa.”

“UNI students in the Model UN club develop topics, background guides and lead sessions that simulate various UN bodies,” said Hansen. “Without them, the Iowa Youth Symposium and Iowa High School Model United Nations conferences would not be possible.”

Hansen noted that the pandemic was a major challenge for student clubs, but Sadkowski quickly adapted by organizing online and hybrid conferences.

“I will miss his steady leadership and unwavering belief in the ability of young people to make real change in the world,” she said. “Many of Konrad's students have gone on to become teachers, starting Model UN clubs at their schools. Konrad's impact on those programs will continue long after his retirement.”

Although IHSMUN experienced a drop in membership starting in 2019, Sadkowski helped rebuild the program. This past spring, nearly 470 students registered for the conference — the largest number he saw during his tenure.

“The organization is strong and solid and on good footing,” he said.

Sadkowski hopes his successor will continue exploring collaboration with UNI’s new Center for Civic Education, possibly by creating a course on the United Nations that complements IHSMUN.

Among all the highlights of his time with the program, what stands out most to Sadkowski is the camaraderie among students.

“Their engagement with each other and the friendships they develop, that’s a really wonderful thing to see,” he said.

He’ll also always remember the sight of the Maucker Union ballrooms set up before the conference, lined with the national flags of 150 or so different countries.

“It’s a wonderful setting to see waiting for these socially-minded, enthusiastic and idealistic high school students to come in and engage with each other,” he said.