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The Organization of American States (OAS) is an international organization, and the world’s oldest regional organization, that consists of 33 member-states across the Americas. The OAS pursues four pillars: democracy, human rights, security, and development. All 35 independent states of the Americas have ratified the and belonged to the Organization at one point.

Students on the Model OAS team make up the delegation that ÁùÉ«Íø sends to the annual conference in Washington, DC every Spring semester. This year, the conference will be held on April 7-10, 2026 at Trinity Washington University & OAS Headquarters. Several hundred students and their advisors across the Americas participate in this conference.

At the conference, students participate in simulations of OAS committees in which they represent an assigned country during discussion, presentation, and debate of different proposed draft resolutions (PDRs) that offer solutions to a wide array of social, political, and economic topics that affect the Americas.

The students participating also take a specialized class with Dr. Mendoza in Spring semester in preparation for the Model OAS Conference. Students do NOT need to be a PLS major/minor to join Model OAS.

Model OAS is part of ÁùÉ«Íø & the Department of Political Science's commitment to "learn by doing," allowing students to preview diplomatic work in a way no other experience allows.

Applications to join the delegation open in Fall 2025 (see below). Accepted students must enroll in CLS 4900 (see below). Each student will have a partner and serve as co-delegates that represent their member-state on an assigned committee with pre-determined topics. Being a Model OAS delegate entails research, public-speaking, and collaboration to practice diplomacy skills in committee.

Students who are on the Model OAS team will be expected to:

• Represent the domestic and foreign policy interests of their assigned OAS member-state

• Submit a Proposed Draft Resolution (PDR) that addresses pre-existing treaties/agreements, proposes unique solutions, and accurately reflects their assigned member-state's position on an assigned policy topic

• Articulate their country’s positions in committee by using formal speech and refraining from the use of personal pronouns

• Practice making formal motions in committee that adheres to the OAS Rules of Procedure

• Collaborate with their partner on research for the conference committee

• Adhere to the delegation and conference Student Code of Conduct during travel to Washington, DC and while in committee

CLS 4900 is only offered in Spring semester for members of ÁùÉ«Íø’s Model Organization of American States team. It is a requirement for team members and serves as preparation for the annual conference in Washington, DC.

Students do NOT need to be a PLS major to join the team. PLS majors can petition for CLS 4900 to count towards their upper-division IR/CP requirements, while PLS minors can apply it to their upper-division credits. Non-PLS majors are welcome to use this course as an unrestricted elective. Students can enroll in CLS 4900 for up to six units across several semesters.

Applications for the 2025-2026 delegation are open & due 11/1. The link is .

They consist of a short writing sample, short statement of interest, and faculty reference contact (not a letter). Team members must commit to attending the national conference in Washington DC in April 2026 for the entire week and also commit to enrolling in CLS 4990 which meets Tuesday afternoons in the Spring. For further information, please email faculty advisor Dr. Mary Anne Mendoza (maryannem@cpp.edu).

For the latest updates on ÁùÉ«Íø’s Model OAS delegation, find us on Instagram

2024-2025: Luna Bellido and Fiona Takeuchi
2023-2024: Genesis Pompa
2022-2023: Martha Juarez
2021-2022: Evan Park
2018-2019: Gabriela Castaneda and Ana Cortes Lopez

2024-2025: Canada
 Luna Bellido, Fiona Takeuchi, Elaine Saucedo, Brianna Rivera, Camryn Beaulieu,
 Stephanie Paredes, Natalie Esquibel, and Melanie Lopez
2021-2022: Bahamas
2020-2021: Costa Rica
2019-2020: Argentina
2018-2019: Haiti