Three Public Relations alumni attend Model NATO in Berlin for crisis simulation forum

Posted on Monday, December 16th, 2024

Arkyn Kornell, Megan Zorn and Renée Jewer-Pineau graduated from the public relations program at Algonquin College in 2024. 

As early-career professionals, the opportunity to build on their skills on an international scale in crisis simulation at the recent Model National Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was highly appealing.  

Kornell, Jewer-Pineau, and Zorn pictured together at the Model NATO crisis simulation in Berlin, Germany.

Kornell, Jewer-Pineau, and Zorn pictured together at the Model NATO crisis simulation in Berlin, Germany.

Model NATO Germany is a four-day simulation of NATO’s most important organizational and diplomatic proceedings. During this activity, participants represent a NATO member state in one of three selected committees: the North Atlantic Council (NAC), the NATO Military Committee, or the Policy Committee. In their respective committee roles, Kornell, Jewer-Pineau and Zorn were tasked with responding to and resolving a simulated crisis through debates of all kind, while representing Romania.  

“I heard about [this opportunity] through the Advanced Entry pathway I’m currently doing with Ontario Tech University,” said Kornell.  “[The crisis focused on the High North] really fascinated me because I’m hoping to go further into environmental communications. Specifically, arctic research is something I’m interested in, along with sustainability initiatives. The forum and crisis simulation were all about these topics, as it was the 100th anniversary of the Svalbard Treaty. It’s important to learn how to tackle these issues as a united front with NATO.”

Kornell and her team initially applied as an exercise in proposal writing, without the expectation of attending the event. She also wanted an opportunity to work with Jewer-Pineau and Zorn, which she hadn’t done while she was at Algonquin. The team received the news that their application was accepted and began preparation.

“I can’t think of a better forum for these graduates to showcase the skills they learned in the Algonquin PR program than in trying to resolve a geopolitical crisis,” said Lara Mills, Public Relations professor and program coordinator at Algonquin College.  

“I have so much love for the PR program and what it taught me. I’m grateful to Lara Mills and other excellent Algonquin College Public Relations professors. One of the main things they taught us was to pay attention to the news. Monitoring relevant news sources has really helped us prepare for the simulation. The PR program is a collaborative program, it makes you a better teammate and teaches students to lead. There was plenty of opportunity to rely on your teammates during the simulation, as Megan and Renee received ongoing information from the policy and military committees that I didn’t have access to in the NAC,” shared Kornell.  

Jewer-Pineau echoed Kornell’s feelings of anticipation and preparedness, “As a military brat, I’ve always been intrigued by how major decisions are made regarding national security. When I learned of Model NATO, I was eager to participate and deepen my personal and professional understanding of NATO. As a recent Public Relations graduate, I’m always searching for ways to apply my communications skills, and this was the perfect opportunity.   I believe the work we accomplished in Berlin has significantly enhanced my future endeavors in communications and international relations. On a personal note, I enjoyed connecting with like-minded young professionals from around the world and exploring Germany together. The four years I spent in the joint honours bachelor program with Algonquin College and the University of Ottawa thoroughly prepared me for effective collaboration in group settings, emphasizing critical and strategic thinking toward a common goal. ”

Zorn added, “I was thrilled to be invited by Renée and Arkyn to apply to the NATO conference. I’ve always been drawn to issues surrounding international relations and global security. This initially led me to study political science, so the chance to participate in a NATO event felt like an incredible opportunity to deepen my understanding of one of the largest and most powerful military alliances. The chance to learn alongside such a diverse group of professionals, whether it be my country’s regional experts or the other delegates, was a very unique and valuable experience.” 

This experience is an exercise in demonstrating their craft in public relations, putting into practice the foundations they learnt at Algonquin College, and it was an excellent resume builder.  

Post-event, Kornell continues to work towards her Bachelor of Communications and Digital Media Studies at Ontario Tech University; Zorn is also continuing her studies, pursuing a Bachelor of Communications and Media Studies at Carleton University while working as a policy analyst in the federal government, and Jewer-Pineau continues to work as a strategist in Ottawa.


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