Clubs and Experiences

Model United Nations Club

The Model UN club is open to all Hood College students. You don’t have to be a Political Science or Global Studies major to join. We participate in a three-day conference in Washington, DC. in early November. In preparation for the conference, we learn about the operations of the United Nations and the specific policies and interests of the country that we represent. Recently, we have represented the governments of Pakistan, Madagascar, and Afghanistan. As part of our preparations for the simulation, we usually visit "our" country's embassy in Washington, DC.

In addition, we have participated in the Model African Union simulation hosted by Howard University in Washington, DC. In recent years, Hood has represented Somalia and the Republic of Congo.

For more information, contact Model UN Faculty Advisor, Paige Eager, at eager@hood.edu.

Maryland Student Legislature

The Maryland Student Legislature is a student run organization and is open to all students at Hood College. Students participate in three sessions each year as members of this club. There are two interim sessions, one each semester, which rotate among different colleges throughout the state, and one annual session held in the spring in the House and Senate chambers in Annapolis.

Students sponsor and debate legislation using parliamentary rules and procedures. In past sessions, bills ranged from changes in laws about the pledge of allegiance to the inclusion of same sex unions as a form of legal marriage. Students are assigned to committees where they debate bills in similar groups before they come together and debate the bills as one large group in the general assembly.

While many students participate in the club without earning college credit, some opt to receive one credit in the spring semester for their participation. Credit can only be granted one time.

For more information, contact Faculty Advisor Dr. Carin Robinson at robinsonc@hood.edu. 

American University's Washington Semester Program

Hood students are able to spend a semester attending American University's Washington Semester Program in Washington DC. The program offers semesters in several distinct areas: American politics, public law, justice, foreign policy, peace and conflict resolution, international business and trade, economic policy, journalism, international environment and development, the arts, transforming communities and education policy and special education.

For more information: www.washingtonsemester.com

The Public Leadership Education Network (PLEN)

PLEN is a wonderful opportunity to learn about a city that is often seemingly untouchable. It allows young women to meet other young women from all parts of the country and share different ideas. It also allows students to explore DC and decide whether or not it is the right place for them."

Hood College is a founding member of the Public Leadership Education Network (PLEN), which is a national consortium of women's colleges working together to prepare women for public leadership. PLEN believes that women's participation is critical in shaping public policy in communities, the nation and the world. Each year PLEN hosts a series of seminars and internships on the public policy process. The seminars, which take place in Washington DC include: Women, Law and Public Policy: A Public Leadership Career Conference, Women and Public Policy Seminar, Women and Science/Technology Policy Seminar, Women and Congress Seminar and Women and International Policy Seminar. 

These seminars are open to students of all majors.

For more information: www.plen.org