A group of Iowa State University students who participated in the 2026 Model Arab League (MAL) conferences were well prepared for their competitions and brought home the accolades to prove it.
Iowa State’s team competed twice, first at the Ohio Valley Model Arab League (OVMAL) at Indiana University in Bloomington on Feb. 19-21, and then at the National University Model Arab League (NUMAL) in Washington, D.C., on March 26-29. The national conference is by invitation only.
Students as diplomats
MAL is a rigorous academic simulation of the League of Arab States, where student delegates step into the role of diplomats for a weekend. Representing one of the league’s 22-member nations, the students participate in both general and specialized councils.
During the conferences, students draft and debate resolutions on key regional and global issues, guided by an agenda that reflects real-world concerns of the Arab League. All discussions follow formal parliamentary procedures, and any resolutions that pass through individual councils are brought before the full assembly in a summit session for final debate and voting.
Nell Gabiam, associate professor of political science, prepares Iowa State students from numerous majors for MAL in her independent study political science course. She began preparing this year’s team in fall 2025, where they learned about the different countries of the Arab League, researched specific countries, and presented their findings to the class.
Hard work recognized
The students’ hard work, research, and dedication paid off during this year’s MAL competitions.
At OVMAL, Jordan Cunningham (’26 political science, biology, anthropology), Catherine Kerkhove (‘ criminal justice, international studies), Rylee Morris (’27 political science), Kale Overton (’26 political science, journalism), and Mariah Meyers (’26 biology) represented Egypt. Cunningham and Kerkhove won the Distinguished Delegation Award for representing Egypt’s Political Affairs Council. Overton won the Distinguished Delegation Award for representing Egypt’s Palestinian Affairs Council.
At NUMAL, Kale Overton, Brayden Meints (’27 anthropology), Jordan Cunningham, and Mariah Meyers teamed up with Wilmington College (Ohio) to represent Kuwait. Overton and Meints, who were representing Kuwait’s Council of Economic Affairs, won the Superior Delegation Award.
An amazing learning experience
The MAL conferences allow students to experience what it’s like to engage in real-life diplomacy. This year’s team agreed that this year’s events were memorable, impactful, and incredible experiences.
According to the students, one of the highlights of participating in the national conference was the opportunity to visit the embassy of the country they were representing. For example, the team that participated in the national conference visited the Kuwait embassy in Washington, D.C., and met with Kuwait’s deputy ambassador prior to the start of the conference.
Cunningham was proud to showcase Iowa State’s small but mighty Middle Eastern studies program and enjoyed helping other students engage with Middle Eastern politics.
“Participating in the conferences was a wonderful capstone for my political science major and Middle Eastern studies minor, as I had just returned from a study abroad in Egypt in December.”
Overton competed at both conferences.
“The council was competitive, formal and, at times, deeply intense,” Overton said of the Ohio Valley conference. “It was also one of the most rewarding academic experiences I’ve had.”
Overton added that the national conference was dramatically different in tone and pace than the two regional conferences he previously attended.
“Nationals placed a far greater emphasis on adaptability, patience, and navigating a room of delegates all with different approaches to diplomacy,” Overton said. “The experience strengthened my public speaking, diplomacy, and leadership skills in ways I honestly did not expect that it would.”
Meints credits his teammates and Gabiam for the support that helped him win a superior delegation award with Overton.
“It was an incredible experience that I highly recommend to others,” Meints said.
As a biology major, Meyers relished the chance to debate real-world environmental issues, especially topics related to sustainability, water conservation, and environmental policy in the Middle East and North Africa region.
“Both experiences were honestly super important to me and were some of the most memorable things I’ve done during college,” Meyers said. “I never expected I’d end up traveling to D.C. for something academic like this.”