OAS assistant secretary general to deliver ESMOAS keynote address

By Jack McClellan
Office of Media Relations
October 24, 2016

Nestor Mendez, assistant secretary general of the Organization of American States (OAS), will deliver the keynote speech at the 20th annual Eugene Scassa Mock Organization of America States (ESMOAS) competition and conference November 3-5 at Texas State University.

The speech will take place November 3 at 6 p.m. in the LBJ Student Center teaching theatre. The event is open to the public, but seating will be limited.

Mendez became the assistant secretary general of the OAS in March 2015. Prior to his election to the post, Mendez was a career diplomat in the foreign service of Belize. His work has focused on improving regional inter-connectivity, addressing the impacts of climate change and empowering youth. Mendez holds graduate degrees in international policy and practice from George Washington University and in diplomatic studies from Oxford University, as well as a B.B.A. degree from the University College of Belize.

Approximately 250 students from 20 universities will participate in the weekend’s events. Students from each participating university are assigned a country within the OAS, which they represent throughout the conference. Teams then present resolutions on predetermined topics and debate issues facing the western hemisphere. Individuals and teams will be judged on quality of written material, creativity, public speaking and debate ability and ability to represent their assigned country’s real-life political position.

For the first time, the competition will also feature an academic conference. The conference will bring together educators to discuss important issues confronting OAS member-states.

Student debates, conference panels and presentations and other events will take place throughout the weekend and are open to the public. For a full list of scheduled events, times and locations, or other information, contact Ben Arnold, faculty advisor for the Model Organization of American States at Texas State, at ca17@txstate.edu or (512) 245-4397.

The competition and conference are sponsored by the Department of Political Science at Texas State.