On Oct. 26, Johnson County Community College (JCCC) hosted Stéphane Dujarric, the official Spokesperson for United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, for “When the World is Watching: Communicating through Global Crisis.”
Dujarric spoke to JCCC students and members of the Johnson County community on crisis communication and navigating hostile or skeptical questioning, communicating complex policy, and maintaining credibility when audiences are polarized.
As Spokesperson, Dujarric provides information to the global media on the activities of the Secretary-General and the entire United Nations system, through daily live-streamed briefings, official statements, media interviews, and off-the-record conversations. He and his team advise the Secretary-General and other senior UN officials on their media interactions, and coordinate interviews and briefings with media outlets around the world.
Prior to the talk, Dujarric spoke privately with JCCC students in the Global Awareness Program (GAP) and to the College’s award-winning Model United Nations team, in addition to sitting for an interview with student journalists from JCCC’s student newspaper, The Messenger.
Commitment to international education
Dujarric’s visit is one example of how JCCC’s Global Engagement Office connects students with international perspectives and opportunities to explore global issues beyond the classroom. Through programs, events, and other experiences, students can learn about global cultures, examine connections between local and international issues, and develop skills for living and working in an increasingly interconnected world.
“When we think about the world, we tend to think that issues exist ‘over there’ and don’t impact or involve us directly,” said Karen Miller, JCCC Director of Global Engagement. “Understanding global issues is key to understanding local issues, because they often are caused and resolved through interconnected actions. The Global Engagement Office is committed to providing opportunities for students and our community to not only learn about these topics, but get involved in efforts toward progress. It all starts with knowledge.”
JCCC’s connection to international education and the United Nations extends beyond Dujarric’s visit. In 2015, JCCC Model United Nations hosted a United Nations Foundation regional conference on campus to help inform the development of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The College Archives also preserve an original United Nations flag that flew over Kansas City’s Wheeler Field on June 27, 1945, during President Harry S. Truman’s return to the Kansas City area following the United Nations Conference in San Francisco.
Explore the world in the Global Awareness Program
Students can experience global cultures without leaving campus through JCCC’s Global Awareness Program (GAP), which combines interdisciplinary studies, global opportunities, foreign language proficiency, and reflective learning to help students explore the interconnected nature of the world.
GAP students participate in an eight-week orientation covering topics such as culture, the connection between language and perception, and international and intergovernmental organizations. In the program’s capstone course, students explore the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals in both local and global contexts, analyze complex situations, and deepen their understanding of the causes and effects of global issues.
Through these experiences, students build knowledge and skills that can prepare them for a variety of academic and professional paths, particularly those involving international and global relations.
Practice diplomacy through Model United Nations
Students interested in global affairs can learn more through JCCC’s Model United Nations (Model UN or MUN) team.
Model UN gives students an opportunity to experience international diplomacy firsthand by serving as delegates representing countries in simulated United Nations committees. Students research global issues, negotiate solutions, draft resolutions, and engage in diplomatic problem-solving while developing skills in research, public speaking, writing, negotiation, critical thinking, teamwork, and leadership.
JCCC’s Model UN team has a long-standing record of success competing against college-level Model UN teams from major universities worldwide. The team has received awards at every Model United Nations conference it has attended during the past 18 years and most recently earned the prestigious Outstanding Delegation award at the 2026 National Model United Nations Conference in New York City.
See the world from a new perspective at JCCC
Through the Global Engagement Office, students can explore international issues through the Global Awareness Program and Model United Nations or take their education beyond campus through Study Away opportunities. JCCC offers semester, summer, and yearlong programs, including internships, in destinations such as Mexico, Spain, Greece, Scotland, Japan, and Italy, with opportunities to earn college credit.
Whether traveling abroad, connecting virtually with people around the world, or exploring global issues closer to home, JCCC gives students opportunities to build the knowledge, curiosity, and cross-cultural skills to engage with an interconnected world. Learn more at jccc.edu.
