Students often do not realize volunteering with the Conference of World Affairs (CWA) can impact their CU Boulder experience in many ways. In fact, simply attending a CWA panel can enrich student perspectives. Senior Soraya Latiff and sophomore Dante Pasionek have an insider鈥檚 view into the events of the week.
Pasionek studies computer science engineering at CU and has been attending panels at the conference for three years, ever since his senior year of high school. One of his favorite speakers was a NASA scientist. 听
"At the women superheroes panel a couple years back, I got to meet and take a picture with probably my favorite NASA scientist ever, Dr. Michelle Thaller."
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A common misconception that bothers Latiff is the rumor that CWA is primarily for students studying international relations. This is untrue. The Conference on World Affairs encourages participation from every major or interest group on campus. The organizers pride themselves on inviting speakers from a broad spectrum of academia.
After her hard work and dedication in years past, Latiff was recently promoted from volunteer to a committee chair. She will supervise 30 to 50 other students. This promotion comes with responsibility, and she will need to practice coordinating others while maintaining other obligations in her life.听
鈥淎s an IA major with a focus on biology and the environment, it has been pretty neat to also attain marketing experience as the student marketing coordinator,鈥� Latiff said.
Her favorite perk of working as a student volunteer is the connections she makes while representing the student body. She drives the speakers around and helps them find their bearings in Boulder. She enjoys meeting some of the most interesting and innovative people in the world.
鈥淚 could highlight many individuals, but, collectively, every experience I have had with the participants has an overarching theme, and it is one of humility. The participants fund their own means of attending the conference and genuinely want to be here at the university for this week. Likewise, they all invest in the students who they have the chance to speak to,鈥� 听Latiff said.
Like Pasionek, not everyone has the opportunity to volunteer because of busy school and work schedules. Still, there are panels and forums to accommodate even the busiest person. CU students are given priority seating and tickets so they won鈥檛 have to worry about standing in long lines. Every student is highly encouraged to attend as many events as they can.听
At this year鈥檚 conference, students will be able to meet former NFL player Chris Borland, NASA Deputy Administrator Dava Newman or maybe even听Superintendent of Grand Canyon National Park Chris Lehnertz. And these are only a few of the amazing keynote speakers announced so far, several of whom will be flying in from countries all over the world.
