Meet Our Team | Model UN Institute by Best Delegate Camp

Laurabeth Goldsmith (she/her)

Chief Executive Officer

Laurabeth Goldsmith has visited all seven continents and more than 60 countries, and she still believes one of the most impactful rooms in the world is a Model UN committee — where young people learn to debate diplomatically and connect across differences, a skill our polarized society desperately needs. As Chief Executive Officer of Best Delegate Model United Nations, she leads a team of more than 60 full-time and seasonal staff dedicated to helping students grow into confident, collaborative global citizens. Since joining Model UN as a high school student, she has seen firsthand how it helps students grow and build friendships with peers who care about the world. That belief drives her work today.

Since becoming CEO, Laurabeth has doubled the size of Best Delegate’s programs while maintaining the quality every student receives, and has led the organization’s growth into a global education leader. She championed the development of Best Delegate’s virtual programs, expanding access to Model UN for students worldwide, and developed the organization’s newest programs in U.S. Politics and Public Speaking. She aims to help young people discover their purpose and passion.

She has built more than 75 partnerships with governments, UN agencies, school districts, and businesses, including the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, IDEA Public Schools, and the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Education. She has trained thousands of students and educators worldwide, including delivering educator training at the United Nations in Vienna, and has overseen the MUN Institute’s in-person summer programs on university campuses as well as its virtual programs and workshops.

At Emory University, Laurabeth served as President of the Model UN team and led it into the top 15 in the country. As a delegate, she earned numerous Best Delegate awards at conferences hosted by Harvard, the University of Chicago, Georgetown, and Duke. Before joining Best Delegate, she worked at The Carter Center and Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida.

She holds a Bachelor’s in Political Science from Emory University, where she also completed the Community Building and Social Change Fellowship, and a Master’s in Management from Harvard University. A recipient of the Semester at Sea Presidential Scholarship, she traveled the world studying gender inequality and teaching human rights and self-defense to girls across Asia, Africa, and Europe.

A longtime advocate for gender equality, Laurabeth has volunteered with Girl Scouts for more than 20 years. She is a proud mom of two young children who have inherited “globe time,” a ritual Laurabeth grew up doing with her own dad: spin a globe, see where your finger lands, and learn about that country. Her oldest has since helped build a Globe Time app the family uses to practice reading and explore the world in more depth. In her free time she enjoys kayaking with her family, hiking, volunteering at her kids’ school, and planning the next trip to learn more about the world we live in.

Ryan Villanueva

Co-Founder

Ryan Villanueva is Best Delegate’s Co-Founder and Chief Education Officer. With over 20 years of MUN experience, Ryan is a highly sought-after expert on teaching Model United Nations and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Ryan has consulted with the United Nations on how to engage students through MUN. He created the world’s first MUN certification program for teachers and leads Best Delegate’s professional development programs. He has developed a Model UN curriculum for governments, schools, and nonprofits. Ryan has advised NGOs that develop MUN in conflict zones, including in Afghanistan, Northeast India, and Israel-Palestine. For his contributions to the MUN community, Ryan was recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2018 THIMUN Qatar Leadership Conference. Ryan served as the Secretary-General of a 1,000-person Model UN conference and received over $20,000 in public speaking scholarships as a high school student. He served as the Secretary-General of the Security Council Simulation at Yale and won Best Delegate awards at Model UN conferences hosted by Harvard and the UPenn as a college student. Ryan launched BestDelegate.com, a blog about MUN, out of his dorm room in his senior year at Yale. After graduating, Ryan worked at Goldman Sachs during the 2008 global financial crisis. He decided to leave Wall Street and partner with Kevin to start Best Delegate, an education company that teaches MUN around the world. Outside of MUN, Ryan served as the President of the Boston chapter of the Entrepreneurs Organization (EO), a global organization with 12,000 members worldwide. He is a recipient of EO Boston’s Business of the Year Award. Ryan is working with EO to empower entrepreneurs to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals through their businesses. Ryan graduated from Yale University with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, and completed the Global Citizenship Think Tank at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He lives in Boston, Massachusetts.

Kevin Felix Chan (he/him)

Co-Founder and Visionary

Kevin Chan, also known by his initials “KFC,” is the Co-Founder and Visionary of Best Delegate Model United Nations. He believes that Model UN can transform a student's confidence, leadership, and worldview because it did exactly that for him. Kevin went from being a shy, nervous public speaker as a high school freshman to introducing United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at the UN General Assembly during his senior year of college. That journey inspired him to help make the same life-changing experience accessible to students around the world.

Since co-founding Best Delegate, Kevin has helped build it into a global leader in Model UN education. He developed and scaled the Model United Nations Institute's summer programs across university campuses nationwide, as well as Best Delegate's virtual programs, collectively serving thousands of students each year. He has personally taught Model UN in 20 countries, spoken twice at the United Nations, and organized more than 35 Model UN conferences, including a dozen at UN Headquarters in New York. He has authored over 470 articles on BestDelegate.com, a website that has reached more than 8 million unique visitors worldwide. Today, as Best Delegate's Visionary, Kevin helps shape its long-term strategy and expand its educational impact through new programs and opportunities for young people.

Kevin's Model UN student journey included serving as the Secretary-General and Head Delegate of UCLA's Model UN program. He also served as Secretary-General of the UNA-USA Global Classrooms conferences in New York and in Los Angeles.

Beyond Best Delegate, Kevin is passionate about entrepreneurship and developing leaders. As a Professional Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) Implementer, he works with leadership teams to build stronger, more effective organizations. He previously served as President of Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) Los Angeles and as National Board Chair and Executive Director of ACE NextGen, a national organization supporting Asian American entrepreneurs. Earlier in his career, Kevin held management roles in marketing, operations, and sales through AT&T's Leadership Development Program before leaving corporate America to co-found Best Delegate with Ryan, one of his closest friends who he met at a high school Model UN.

Kevin earned his Bachelor's degree in Political Science from UCLA and completed executive education at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management. An avid traveler who has explored more than 60 countries and built friendships around the world, Kevin loves experiencing new cultures, discovering different perspectives, and connecting with people wherever he goes. He sees global citizenship not simply as something students learn in a classroom, but as a way of life. He credits Model UN with helping him develop the confidence, curiosity, and empathy to connect across cultures—skills that continue to shape his personal and professional life. His hope is that every Best Delegate student discovers the confidence to find their voice, connect with others, and create positive change in the world.

Logan Smith (he/him)

Director of Programs

Logan Smith is the Director of Programs at Best Delegate.

He has been involved in Model United Nations for 8+ years, and has worked with Best Delegate to deliver the Model United Nations Institute since 2018 as a MUN mentor, Residential Counselor, and Program Manager. Logan has taught Model United Nations to over 1,000 students through Best Delegate, leading MUN trainings for students and advisors in multiple countries. Logan previously served as the President and Head Delegate of his Model UN Team at the University of Miami, and has helped organize multiple national MUN conferences, including the 2020 WFUNA International Model United Nations Conference. Today, Logan works to refine Best Delegate’s programming to ensure it meets the individualized needs of our students. Logan graduated from the University of Miami with a Bachelor’s of Music in Jazz Voice Performance and an additional major in Political Science, and holds a Master’s of Science from the London School of Economics in International Development Studies. After completing his education, Logan spent three years working at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris, France, conducting evaluations of the globe’s 36 largest development and humanitarian agencies and Multilateral Development Banks. While at the OECD, Logan organized multiple High-Level Roundtable discussions at United Nations offices in Geneva and New York, which brought together speakers including then President of the Swiss Confederation Ignazio Cassis, UN Assistant Secretary-General Oscar Fernandez-Taranco, and UN Permanent Representatives from Italy, Indonesia, and Costa Rica, among others. In addition to his role at Best Delegate, Logan works as a freelance evaluator reviewing the work of UN agencies in various country offices. In his free time, Logan is a fan of long-distance running, and loves to travel to find new places to run, hike, surf, and swim.

Toni Lawrence (she/her)

Director of Marketing and Sales

Toni Lawrence is the Director of Marketing and Sales at Best Delegate. Since joining the team in January 2022, she has grown with the company, advancing from Marketing Manager to Senior Marketing and Sales Manager and now leading both departments. Today, Toni oversees marketing, advertising, sales and customer service, helping families, teachers and schools find the programs that are the right fit for their students.

Toni loves to think of innovative ways to market programs nationwide that leave lasting impressions on those who attend. Under her leadership, Best Delegate had the largest summer in company history, serving over 2,000 students. She has also built out the marketing team, bringing together the creative and strategic talent behind Best Delegate's growth.

Although Toni never competed in Model UN herself, she is a passionate believer in the value of education and public speaking, skills she sees as priceless for students in school and in life. That belief drives her work to bring Best Delegate's programs to more students and families every year.

Toni studied organizational communications, marketing and psychology at North Central College in Naperville, Illinois, where she participated in volleyball, TED Talk Club, study abroad and the Athletic Mentor Program. Before joining Best Delegate, she worked at a marketing agency in Chicago, serving clients from around the world and helping them reach their full potential. Toni is a results-oriented, deadline-driven communications strategist with talents in public presentation and promotion.

Toni lives in Chicago, Illinois, with her husband, their son and their dog, Athena. Outside of work, you'll find her out for a run, curled up with a good book or exploring a new city and a new favorite restaurant, usually with a cup of coffee in hand. Athena is never far behind.

Monica Gonzales

Director of Human Resources

Monica Gonzales serves as the Director of Human Resources, bringing over 15 years ofprofessional human resources experience to the team. She has managed the HR functions in small to mid-size companies in industries including non-profit, education, health and wellness, hospitality, consulting, and more. Her areas of expertise include compliance and best practices, HR infrastructure, compensation, performance management and policy and procedure development. She is passionate about building strategies and initiatives focused on solving business and people challenges. Monica has a unique combination of strengths, including education and experience in accounting and business management contributing to bottom-line organizational success. Although if asked, Monica will tell you her true strength and passion lies in trust and relationship building across all levels. When Monica isn’t working solving people challenges or contributing to employee engagement, she enjoys traveling, Netflix binging, and laying out on the beach with a good book.

Joyce Calixton (she/her)

Customer Service Representative

Joyce Calixton has served as the Customer Service Representative at Best Delegate since December 2020. Joyce loves helping families to select the programs that are going to help their students grow and learn. Joyce is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a B.S. in Accountancy from Ateneo de Davao University, in the Philippines. Joyce previously worked as an Assurance Associate for Ernst & Young Global Limited. Joyce is detail-oriented and wants to make sure families are signed up for the program that best meets their needs. In her free time, Joyce loves to go on long walks with her pug, binge watch anime, and attempt to read a good book.

Keri James

Controller

Keri James is a Certified Public Accountant and serves as the Controller for the accounting and finance department at Best Delegate.

She focuses on fully supporting the accounting, finance and analytics needs of growing businesses. In her role, she works to ensure the financial and operational data is fully utilized to support informed decision making and is leveraged to develop a strategic plan for growth.

Prior to working as an accounting consultant, Keri worked as Business Intelligence Manager for the U.S. Department of Interior and worked to deploy Tableau data visualization software across the bureaus. She’s worked with clients in industries to include technology, advertising, retail, food and beverage, manufacturing, construction, and e-commerce.

Keri is happiest when outside in nature. She and her husband, Matt, enjoy hiking in the Appalachian Mountains and camping with their rescue dog, Bruce.

Megan Graham

AP/AR Specialist

Megan Graham is an accounting specialist with over 15 years of experience in the public and private sectors. Her genuine desire to help clients is reflected in her attention to detail, reliability, and collaborative communication style.

Paul Mackey

Director of Finance

Paul Mackey leads the finance department at Best Delegate as its Director of Finance. He has spent his career advising and investing in small businesses and middle market companies across a variety of industries. Paul enjoys working hands-on with management teams to drive operational and growth initiatives, and co-founded a Finance and Accounting advisory firm to give business owners better visibility into their numbers and drive data-driven decision making.

Paul and his family live in Dallas, TX.

Julia O'Neal (she/her)

Programs Manager

Julia O’Neal is a Program Manager at Best Delegate. She is passionate about designing programs that help students build public speaking skills, confidence, and a love of Model UN. Julia competed in Model UN for more than a decade and has attended over 40 conferences, across formats ranging from fantasy crisis to virtual General Assembly to specialized chaired bodies.

Julia graduated from the University of Georgia with degrees in International Affairs and French and a minor in Political Science. She served for two years as Head Delegate of UGA MUN, where she found her passion in teaching and coaching her team. She has staffed middle school, high school, and collegiate conferences, including four years chairing at UGAMUNC. Throughout her career, Julia has helped to create and build upon local Model UN programs at nearby schools, as well as her own.

Julia has found that Model UN builds creativity and confidence, and she works to give students the same opportunity. Outside of work, she is an artist who paints portraits, murals, and more.

Logan Pecht

Diplomacy Fellow

With over 8 years of experience in Model United Nations and 3 years teaching with Best Delegate, Logan has developed a passion for teaching and mentorship. Over the course of his time with Best Delegate, Logan has taught over a thousand of students Model UN and takes passion in seeing delegates grow more confident in their abilities to give speeches and propose solutions. Logan believes strongly in the power of Model UN to inspire the next generation of leaders and activists across the world.

After graduating with a degree in Political Science and Economics from McGill University, Logan began a Masters Degree in International Economic Policy at Sciences Po Paris. There he developed a passion for climate and environmental issues and has completed internships at an NGO and international organisation on the topic. At Sciences Po, he is currently help develop their Model UN team and will be leading delegations across France, UK, and elsewhere in Europe this upcoming year.

Originally from Chicago in the US, Logan attributes his passion for international affairs to Model UN. Outside of Model UN, you can find him either on a run or bike ride, as well as enjoying a nice meal from a new restaurant

Edralyne Tamundong

Customer Service Representative

Edralyne Tamundong, or Eds, helps parents and students with their questions about Model UN, whether they’re new to the program or coming back for another summer. She enjoys helping families find the information they need and making the process easier for them. She believes that even a simple, timely response can make a big difference, so she always aims to be helpful, approachable, and clear in every conversation.

Based in the Philippines, Eds loves music, enjoys a good cup of coffee, and has a deep appreciation for nature. Outside of work, she loves camping with family and friends, exploring the outdoors, and making lasting memories with the people closest to her.

Peniel De los Santos

Website Administrative Assistant

Pen joined Best Delegate in January 2025 as a Website Administrative Assistant. He helps manage and optimize the Best Delegate and Model United Nations Institute (MUNI) websites, improving website performance, search visibility, and the online experience for students, parents, and educators.

His work focuses on SEO, website maintenance, keyword research, content optimization, and technical improvements. He also explores GEO and AI search visibility to help more families discover Best Delegate's educational programs.

Pen lives in the Philippines. Outside of work, he enjoys playing guitar, riding his motorcycle, and relaxing with a good cup of coffee.

Reychelle Alvero

Marketing Associate

Reychelle joined Best Delegate as a Marketing Associate, bringing her background in Political Science and communications to drive the organization’s multi-channel marketing campaigns. She creates engaging social media content, designs visual assets, and manages email workflows for both Best Delegate and the Model United Nations Institute (MUNI).

Her work focuses on digital strategy and content creation to help students and educators discover Model UN opportunities worldwide.

Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, discovering local food spots, and starting her day with an iced latte.

Grace Parish (she/her)

Mentor

Grace recently graduated from McGill University with First Class Honors in Microbiology and Immunology. She is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Biochemistry at the University of Toronto. Grace brings a wealth of experience and dedication to her role at Best Delegate. Originally from Toronto, Grace has been involved in Model United Nations since high school.

During her time at McGill, she was President of the International Relations Students’ Association, a non-profit with consultative status to the United Nations and the parent organization of McGill’s Model UN Team and conferences. She was also part of the McGill Model UN Delegation Team and served as Chargée d’Affaires for the high school Model UN conference, the Secondary Schools United Nations Symposium.

Alexandra Himmel

Mentor

With nine years of Model United Nations experience and seven years of tutoring experience across a variety of subjects, Alexandra Himmel brings a passion for teaching and international affairs to her work with students. After joining Best Delegate as a Diplomacy Fellow this past summer, she is excited to continue with the team as a tutor and help students build their confidence and Model UN skills.

Alexandra is a junior at Duke University studying Political Science with a concentration in International Relations, a minor in Women’s and Gender Studies, and a certificate in Human Rights. She served as Under-Secretary-General of Crisis during her freshman year and Co-Secretary-General of the Duke Model United Nations Conference during her sophomore year, as well as Co-President of the Duke Debating Society. She also participated as a youth delegate to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, connecting her interests in international relations, gender equality, and human rights.

Vivian Jingozian

Mentor

Vivian Jingozian has a passion for tutoring and Model United Nations, which is why she is so excited to take on this role. She has been tutoring for three years now, and pariticipating in Model UN for four. She started at Best Delegate as a MUN Mentor for the Virtual Institute this past summer and is excited to be back! Vivian is a second year at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) where she is studying Business-Economics with a minor in Accounting. She has a role on the executive board of UCLA's MUN team as the Under-Secretary General of Novice Committees for the highschool conference hosted, BruinMUN. Vivian has a breadth of experience staffing and competiting in conferences, both in high school and college, so she is ready to share that!

Julia Jingozian

Mentor

Julia Jingozian joined the Best Delegate team in the summer of 2026 and is eager to continue working with them! She has participated in Model UN for four years and has been tutoring students for two years. She is very passionate about Model UN, so teaching it to students is something she enjoys greatly! She is currently a second-year at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) studying Business Economics. She is on UCI's Model UN team where she will be directing her own committee at the conference they host for highschoolers. Julia has a vast experience in Model UN; she has competed as a delegate in committees up to 350 individuals, staffed numerous conferences, and captained her own team.

Ava Zanetti

Mentor

Ava is a current 3rd year student at Western University studying Political Science with a minor in Media, Information and Technoculture (MIT). On pre-law track, looking toward US institutions. Ava spent the last two summers travelling around the US teaching MUN with Best Delegate. Travelled to: Dallas, Washington D.C., Boston, LA, Orange County and the Bay Area. Taught middle and high schoolers from novice to advanced - focus on public speaking and diplomacy. Second school year private tutoring and teaching online. Current Secretary General of Western MUN, running university conference and starting up high school conference. Director (2026) and Assistant Director (2025) of NHSMUN in NYC, chairing committees of over 200 delegates. Outside of MUN, Ava runs marathons, is learning to fly planes, works with horses, loves to travel and read!

Hayley Serpa (she/her)

Mentor

Hayley was born and raised in Miami, Florida and is a 2022/2023 graduate of the accelerated B.A./M.A. program in History at Florida International University (FIU). Hayley has professional experience coordinating federally-funded research projects with the University of Miami Libraries, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and the U.S. Forest Service. As a student at FIU, Hayley was Head Delegate of FIU’s intercollegiate team and competed at a total of twenty-five conferences with ten first-place awards. Model UN has provided her with the self-confidence and leadership skills to succeed academically, professionally, and personally, as well as empower those around her to do, be, and feel their best.

Karim Tejani

Mentor

Karim Tejani was inspired to pursue public speaking as a way to find his voice. Now he aims to try to inspire the younger generation in the same way. Karim believes that public speaking is the best avenue not just to improve public speaking confidence but to boost interview skills, social skills, and critical thinking. After 6 years of Model United Nations experience, this past summer, he started his work with Best Delegate, teaching over 200 students ranging from 6th to 12th grade.

Right now, Karim is a sophomore at Syracuse University studying Political Science. He is the Vice President of their Competitive Mock Trial Program, winning the Member of the Year Award his freshman year.

Beyond public speaking, he loves to play golf and watch all kinds of sports! He is also a huge movie lover, with his favorite films being 12 Angry Men and The Sound of Music.