Secretariat Bios

For over a decade, Patrick Parsons has participated in or served on the organizational staff of Model United Nations conferences throughout the United States and internationally in Ecuador, Italy, and the People’s Republic of China. Patrick graduated from West Virginia University with a B.A. in International Relations and a B.S.Ag. in Animal and Veterinary Sciences before earning a Juris Doctor from American University’s Washington College of Law.  He currently works in advocacy, lobbying, and outreach for a nationwide maritime trade association based in the Washington, D.C. metro area.

Mary Moeller has been involved with Northwest Model United Nations - Portland for four years, and is the Director-General for 2019. She most recently served on the staff of the Human Rights Council - Universal Periodic Review in 2018, and is a Director at NWMUN-Seattle 2018 as well. This is Mary's seventh conference on staff, following a lengthy Model United Nations career as a delegate from Western Washington University. Mary recently graduated with a BA in Economics from Western Washington University. She is now the Data and Reporting Specialist at the Center for Domestic Peace, which is a domestic violence NGO in the Bay Area. In her free time, Mary enjoys writing music, gardening, and road trips.

Katie McNall is excited to jump into the action at NWMUN-Portland 2019. This is her 10th NWMUN conference, with 5 as a delegate and 5 on staff. She caught the Model UN bug in high school, attending conferences in Tokyo for two years. Katie graduated from Western Washington University in 2016 with a degree in Exceptionality and Disability, a degree combining Special Education and Human Services coursework. This degree has allowed her to focus on her passion, working with nonprofits like the Arc of Whatcom County. She is currently pursuing a graduate degree in Nonprofit Management to further this work, and working at her local library. 

Teya McGuire is exciting to be serving at the Assistant Secretary-General for Logistics at NWMUN-Portland for the first time. This will be her 10th time participating in a Model United Nations conference. Her interests in human rights and international affairs has driven her passion to continue Model UN and learn more about the world. Teya is pursuing a degree in International Business from the University of Washington, where she also works as a tour guide for the Seattle campus. Outside of academics she enjoys baking cheesecakes and experimenting with photography.  

Bianca Amira Zanella is ready to explore another coast and dive into NWMUN-Portland 2019! Bianca was struck with the MUN spell in 2011, and joined the National Model United Nations - NY staff in 2015. Bianca lives in a small vibrant city in Vermont, after falling in love with the surrounding mountains. After graduating from Green Mountain College with a BA in English with a focus on education and a BFA in Creative Writing, Bianca worked to organize and revitalize her community. Today, she serves as Systems Advocate for NewStory Center, a local nonprofit supporting survivors of domestic and sexual violence, as well as facilitates men’s violence accountability programs for probationers. Additionally, she helps manage several art and alternative galleries, serves on the board for Stone Valley Arts, and runs a poetry open mic at Phoenix Books. Bianca is a spoken word and visual artist in the wee hours and prefers dusk to dawn any day.