Direct exposure to big ideas – as big as the world itself – has given Ashley a confidence that the world is hers to conquer.

Every year, a Model UN is held in New York, at the actual United Nations building. A prestigious opportunity for any student, this competition involves students from countries all over the world. For Ashley Dawson, who took the Saint Mary’s Model UN class, it was an incredible chance for experiential learning.

“It allowed me to better understand the consensus-building process and to better visualize the overarching purpose of the UN,” Ashley says. “It was amazing to be able to put myself in the place of decision-makers. To be able to use what I had learned in the classroom fundamentally helped shape my understanding of this great institution.”

Ashley’s goal is to complete her Bachelor of Arts degree, pursue a Master of Arts in Political Science, and ultimately find work as an advisor to government. She’s confident that Saint Mary’s philosophy will a play a role in her success.

A trip to New York and a life plan in action. Win win.