Evelyn Jiang, President
Evelyn (she/her) is a junior majoring in history from Chicago, IL. Before becoming YIRA President, she served as the Director-General of Committees for Yale Model United Nations 50, YIRA’s flagship conference held on Yale’s campus. She is currently the Director-General of Committees for YMUN Korea XII. As YIRA President, she is excited to continue cultivating unique and outstanding experiences for YIRA members and high school participants of YIRA’s many programs, domestic and abroad. She is also focused on reaffirming YIRA’s relationship with its three third-party partners. Outside of YIRA, Evelyn loves taking long walks, watching ManUnited soccer matches with friends, and trying new types of mochi! Please reach out to president@yira.org with any questions!
Kyle guo, treasurer
Kyle Guo (he/him) is a junior in Pierson College from North Haven, CT, majoring in Economics and Political Science. He is thrilled to be serving as the Treasurer of YIRA for this year! As Treasurer, Kyle aims to increase accessibility to YIRA and its constituent programs for students globally and at Yale. Previously, he has worked on YMUN XLIX and YMUN 50, YIRA's flagship conference on Yale's campus. Currently, Kyle also serves as Secretary-General for YMUN India and USG of Branding for YMUN Korea. Outside of YIRA, he is also the Executive Producer for the Yale Founder Series podcast. In his free time, Kyle enjoys exploring the outdoors, traveling, binging a good show, or discovering new artists. Feel free to reach out to him at treasurer@yira.org with any questions or concerns.
Joanne Lee, Executive Director
Joanne (she/her) is a Junior in Pierson College majoring in Economics and Mathematics. She has been involved in various YIRA programs, including MUNTY, YMUN Singapore, and YMUN Dubai. As Executive Director, Joanne is excited to create opportunities for collaboration, mentorship, and personal growth within YIRA, ensuring that every member has the support and resources they need to thrive. On campus, Joanne is also part of the Undergraduate Moot Court team and College Fed Challenge. In her free time, she loves exploring museums, eating good food, and visiting the beach with her friends. Feel free to reach out to her at executive@yira.org with any questions!
bayan mohamed, vice president
shalina effendi, secretary
peilin lu, YMUN Secretary General
Peilin (she/her) has loved her time serving on the Secretariats of YMUN 49 and 50 and is honored to be the Secretary-General of YMUN LI! Originally from Beijing, China, and Syracuse, New York, Peilin studies History and Political Science at Yale with a certificate in Advanced German. Outside of YMUN, she is the Secretary-General of YMUN China and the co-Center Head of the Yale Policy Institute’s Equal Justice Center. In her free time, she enjoys stage acting as a member of Vermillion Theatre, visiting cafes with friends, and going on long walks with her dogs, Hector and Feifei. She is happy to answer any questions at secgen@ymun.org and can’t wait to meet all the young leaders in January!
Lee-ANN Kao, YMUNT Secretary General
Lee-Ann (she/her) is a junior from central Indiana majoring in Global Affairs and Statistics and Data Science. She currently serves as the Secretary-General of Yale Model United Nations Taiwan, where she is excited to continue fostering diplomacy and cultural exchange among students in Taiwan and abroad. In a new decade of YMUNT, she is focused on making YMUN Taiwan XI accessible to delegates of all backgrounds through extensive financial assistance, proactive delegate recruitment, and resources for delegates with a range of languages and skill levels. In her other YIRA experiences, Lee-Ann served as the Under-Secretary-General of Delegations for Yale Model United Nations 50, and she currently also serves as a Director of Curriculum for the Yale International Relations Institute. Outside of YIRA, Lee-Ann loves cooking new recipes, going on long walks, and drawing! Please reach out to secgen@ymunt.org with any questions.
Wyatt Huang, YMUNK Secretary General
Wyatt (he/him) is a junior at Silliman college majoring in Ethics, Politics, and Economics, and Cognitive Science. He has served as the Director-General of Operations for YMUNK last year and is beyond excited to return! Outside of YMUNK, Wyatt is a part of the U.S.-China Semiconductor Policy Research Team at the Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs and is involved in U.S.-China research at the Yale Law School. In his free time, Wyatt loves to travel and try out different cuisines around the world. He also spends a lot of his time watching movies (his favorite being Dark Knight!) and reading poems. Feel free to reach out to him at ymunkoreasecgen@yira.org.
Kyle Guo, YMUN india Secretary General
Kyle Guo (he/him) is a junior in Pierson College from North Haven, CT, majoring in Economics and Political Science. He is thrilled to be leading the second iteration of YMUN India as Secretary-General, and he hopes to continue building YMUN's foundation in South Asia and lead this upcoming conference to its fullest potential. Previously, he has worked on YMUN XLIX and YMUN 50, YIRA's flagship conference on Yale's campus. Currently, Kyle also serves as the Treasurer for YIRA and USG of Branding for YMUN Korea. Outside of YIRA, he is also the Executive Producer for the Yale Founder Series podcast. In his free time, Kyle enjoys exploring the outdoors, traveling, binging a good show, or discovering new artists. Feel free to reach out to him at ymunindia.president@yira.org with any questions or concerns.
Andrew Lau, YMUN Singapore Secretary General
Andrew (he/him) is a junior in Trumbull College majoring in the Humanities, with a certificate in Data Science. Having grown up in Singapore, he is honoured to have the privilege of serving as Secretary-General of YMUN Singapore, and is excited to meet all the delegates in March. On campus, he coaches debate for middle and high school students as part of the Urban Debate League, is an Associate Editor for the Yale Daily News Magazine and works as an Academic Strategies Mentor for the Office of Educational Opportunity. In his free time, he enjoys cooking Asian food, reading and traveling to new places in the US. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact him at secgen@ymuns.org.
Sophia Chin McManus, YMUNLatam Secretary General
Sophia Chin McManus (she/her) is a sophomore in Timothy Dwight college majoring in Comparative Literature on the film track and potentially doubling in Psychology. As a São Paulo native, she is so honored and excited to serve as secretary general of YMUN Latin America 2024 in her hometown. Sophia has also been involved in other YMUN conferences such as YMUN Korea and YMUN Taiwan. Outside of YIRA, she is also a member of the Undergraduate Catholic Council, Brazil Club Yale, sings with acapella group Pitches & Tones, and works for the Center of International and Professional Experience as a student ambassador. In her free time she enjoys writing, translating and practicing kung-fu. Feel free to reach out to her with any questions or to chat at secgen@ymunlatam.org.
Karla Perdomo Núñez, YMAU PRESIDENT
Karla is a junior in Ezra Stiles majoring in Global Affairs, with a Spanish and Human Rights Certificate. Karla was born in the Dominican Republic, moved when she was 4, lived in Florida, and then in New Jersey, where she has lived since. Besides YIRA, She is on board of the Dominican Students Association and the Yale Undergraduate Human Rights Journal, and an interpreter for the Legal Services Clinic at the Yale Law School as well as co-Head Peer Liaison at La Casa Cultural. Previously, she has chaired for YMUN in New Haven, served as USG of Branding for YMUN Dubai I, DG Programs for YMAU III, and Co-USG Branding for YMUN Latam I, and now serves on YIRA Board as President of YMAU IV. Her favorite season at Yale is the spring, when everyone brings out their blanket and cross-campus becomes a social space, (Yalies thrive in the sun!)! Karla is elated about YMAU this year, taking place in Kenya!
Makda Assefa, Director of Hemispheres
Makda (she/her) is a junior in Timothy Dwight College, pursuing a double major in Global Affairs and History. She is originally Ethiopian, but grew up in Nairobi, Kenya. She is thrilled to be serving as the Director of Hemispheres this year, and looks forward to expanding Hemi's volunteer programming! Previously, she served as the Director-General of Operations for YMAU, and as USG of Comms for YIRLI. Outside of Hemi, Makda hosts a broadcast show on the Yale Radio Station (WYBC), works as a student assistant at the Afro-American Cultural Center, and volunteers at New Haven Reads. In her free time she loves to write poetry, make playlists, take naps, and spend time with her friends. Feel free to contact her at hemispheres@yira.org with any questions.
Lily Chatalbasheva, YMUNE President
Lily (she/her) is a junior double majoring in Physics and Economics from Sofia, Bulgaria. Before becoming Secretary-General of YMUNE XIV, she served as Director-General of Committees for YMUNE XIII and Under-Secretary-General of General Assemblies for YMUN 50. Her main goal as YMUNE Secretary-General is to make it the best educational experience yet, bringing together people from all around the world while also bringing the Yale experience to them. Outside of YIRA, she also works at the Yale MacMillan Center for European Studies, and she serves as the Chief Operating Officer for Smart Woman Securities at Yale and visual artist at Cortex. For fun, Lily enjoys watching Formula 1, reading, hiking, and art/architecture. Feel free to reach out to her at secgen@ymuneurope.org at any time!
Beckett Elkins, YRIS editor-in-chief
Beckett is a junior in Pauli Murray college double majoring in philosophy and global affairs with a possible certificate in Arabic. He's a co-Editor-in-Chief of the Yale Review of International Studies and previously served as the club's managing editor. Originally from the small town of Gambier, Ohio, he's passionate about making global affairs research accessible to students from all geographic backgrounds. On campus, he works on organizing non-profit consulting cases for Yale's Net Impact chapter and is involved in rural student life. In his free time, he enjoys playing guitar, watching Arabic movies, and exploring new study spots around campus.
Hailey Seo, YRIS editor-in-chief
Hailey (she/her) is a junior from Tulsa, Oklahoma, double majoring in Global Affairs and Environmental Studies with certificates in Data Science and Korean. She is the co-Editor-in-Chief of the Yale Review of International Studies, and in the past, has held the position of Marketing & Outreach Director. She is excited to provide a space for undergraduates to discuss and publish their thoughts on global issues and topics. Outside of YIRA, she is in the Office of Sustainability's Peer Education Program, writes and edits for the Yale Environmentalist and the Yale Globalist, and works for the Yale Project on Climate Change Communication. In her free time, she enjoys reading, crocheting, and drinking coffee.
