"MUN is about learning, growing, and realizing you’re capable of so much more than you think."

I met Kristina when I chaired her students at KAMUN 2024. She was, honestly, everyone’s favourite teacher: a mix of energy, warmth, and genuine care for her students. 

Kristina is a high school teacher with 25 years of experience. She teaches English, German, and French and has been passionate about politics forever. Her introduction to MUN was almost accidental. A colleague in Belfast told her, “You have to come to see this,” and invited her to a high school MUN conference during spring break. What she saw blew her mind. “There were 400 students, from 12 years old to graduation, all dressed up and debating. They even had crisis committees!” she said. “I thought, ‘Holy moly, what is this?’”

After returning home, Kristina proposed to start MUN at her school. Her students didn’t just participate—they crushed it. One even snagged an Honorable Mention at their first conference in Göttingen.

Kristina is a fantastic MUN mom. “I love watching my students grow,” she says. They start nervous and unsure of themselves, and by the end, they’re confidently debating and owning the room. It’s the best feeling.” She’s all about guiding newbies, showing them the basics with mock committees before taking them to their first real conference.

“Some students think they need to be perfect,” she explained. “But MUN is all about learning by doing. You don’t have to talk a lot or know everything on day one. Set small goals, like raising your placard once or twice. It’s about building confidence, not perfection.”

As a faculty advisor, Kristina multitasks. She plans trips, organises paperwork, and takes care of her students. “I tell them, ‘You’re here to enjoy this, not stress about it,’” she said. “And by the end, they’re usually hooked. Kristina’s dedication to her students goes beyond academics. She ensures they feel safe, supported, and—most notably: empowered.

She also had many opinions about mymun (She is our fan Nº1). “It’s a lifesaver,” she said. “You can find the right conference, manage applications, and connect with other teachers. It makes my life so much easier.” One of her favourite memories? Watching a student overcome their fears. “There was this one student—English was her first language, but she was so nervous she didn’t want to speak. By the end of the conference, she completely owned her role,” Kristina said. “Seeing her transformation was incredible. 

Kristina’s commitment to MUN goes far beyond the classroom. Two years ago, she organised a MUN teacher training in Munich with 32 teachers from different schools, and she invited Jonas and Alex Kapp to teach them how to teach MUN. It was an incredible experience following the opinions of different participants. Outside of MUN, Kristina’s life is just as wholesome. She has two grown kids and the cutest cats ( I’m officially manifesting a Persian cat of my own one day, and yes, its name will be Ayran). By the end of our conversation, I reflected on how much I missed my mom and how much I needed a hug after speaking with her. Sometimes, you meet people who leave an unexpected impact, and Kristina is one of them.