John Gallagher is the Executive Director of Model UN Academy, the world’s largest youth-led educational Model UN nonprofit, which has provided free, original resources to over 17,000 students across 78 countries. John led the creation of the Model UN Academy Fellowship and helped advance the signature written guides.

John has actively participated in a wide range of Model UN conferences at the local, national, and international levels, earning recognition for his excellence in diplomacy, public speaking, and writing. He is deeply committed to the principles of diplomacy, thorough research, and collaborative problem-solving. Through his involvement, John aspires to inspire the next generation of leaders to discover their voice, engage meaningfully with global challenges, and lead with empathy and purpose.

Model UN Experience

John is an Executive Board Member of Hinsdale Central High School's Model UN program of 100+ students. He has participated in Model UN since 2023, attended 8 conferences (4-time international qualifier), and earned 6 awards (2 national and 4 international).

John is the Head Backroom Crisis Chair for DuPage Model United Nations (DUMUN), a DuPage County-wide Model UN conference, nonprofit, and partner of UNA-Chicago. DUMUN I hosted 74 middle/high school delegates and raised $5,150 for the UNHCR and the WHO. The inaugural conference was featured in WBEZ Chicago, The Hinsdalean, and Hinsdale Magazine.