CMU Political Science Students Meet Global Leaders at Conference on World Affairs – Colorado Mesa University

CMU Political Science Students Meet Global Leaders at Conference on World Affairs  Colorado Mesa University

Five Colorado Mesa University political science students headed to Boulder in April after being selected from more than 35 applicants to attend the 2026 Conference on World Affairs. Students Kayla Bauer, Jordan Jenning, Jachin Glassman, Alexis White and Kira Smith spent four days listening to former diplomats, national security officials and other speakers take on issues in politics and international affairs. One of the trip’s highlights came before Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai’s keynote address, when all five CMU students and Assistant Professor of Political Science Holly Oberle, PhD, talked with her about what she planned to discuss and took a photo with her. “All the students were buzzing,” said Oberle.

“They were so happy, so excited and so overwhelmed.” The Conference on World Affairs brought together people with different backgrounds and perspectives to talk about current issues. “It’s really more about experts, thinkers, students, activists and artists, all kinds of people with different perspectives on contemporary issues coming together to just talk,” Oberle said. Students were free to build their own schedules and chose sessions that interested them. Sessions included discussions about international development, America’s relationship with NATO and public service. They also watched former U.S. national security advisers Susan Rice and John Bolton debate the United States’ role in the world. Yousafzai closed the conference to speak