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Bringing the Love of MUN to All

Founder & Team Advisor

Matthew Youngster

Matthew started as a Model UN delegate in 2014 while still in high school. During his time at the University of Tampa, Matthew served as the Head Delegate of the UT Model United Nations team, traveling to and leading the UT team at the Harvard National Model United Nations conference each year he served in this position.  During his college career, he also traveled to Philadelphia to take part in the University of Pennsylvania Model United Nations Conference on three occasions.  He has been recognized for individual delegate awards and was part of an award-winning delegation on multiple occasions as a delegate.

While still a student at the University of Tampa in 2016, Matthew founded Tampa Bay Homeschool Model United Nations to serve homeschool students in Tampa Bay by providing Model UN opportunities to that community. As the Founder and Team Advisor of the Tampa Bay Homeschool Model United Nations, he has led his students to countless conferences throughout the state. His delegates have been honored with individual awards and delegation awards at conferences throughout the state of Florida.

Matthew is a product of the homeschool community in Tampa and has worked for nearly a decade teaching and working with students throughout the region.  Matthew Youngster is a 2019 graduate of the University of Tampa, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Political Science with a minor in Law, Justice, and Advocacy and a concentration in American Government.  In 2024, Matthew received his Master of Science in Marketing from the University of South Florida. In addition to his Model United Nations experience, Matthew serves as Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus Council 8104, is a singer and soloist in a local choir, and is active in community service work around his home community.

In his professional career, Matthew has worked in the defense industry, in the political field, and currently as a Grant Compliance Administrator at the University of South Florida in the Office of Research & Innovation.

Matthew is excited to continue bringing his experience in Model UN and leadership to homeschoolers in the Tampa area who would otherwise not get the opportunity to participate in Model United Nations.

 

Matthew Youngster

In addition to his duties as Team Advisor, Matthew serves as President of the non-profit organization behind our organization and is the driving force behind all the organization’s activities. He also is the director of our single-day crisis committees.

Elizabeth Bobev

Elizabeth serves as the social media director for TBHMUN, and is responsible for most of the stunning photos you see on our social media accounts and website!

Rachel Sommers

Rachel serves as secretary of TBHMUN, helping to organize events, and remind Matthew that there’s always someone crazier on the team.

 

Meet our Crisis Committee Staff

These talented individuals work tirelessly to bring our crisis committees to life, and make the experience enjoyable, challenging, and exciting for our participating delegates.

The Directing Team

Sometimes, their jobs feel a little bit like herding cats. Our most experienced crisis staffers keep their eye on the big picture, crafting crisis updates, and keeping track of in-world events during the committee.

Matthew Youngster

Matthew leads our Crisis Committee staff team as executive crisis director, a.k.a. Our Unquestionable Overlord. He’s the big picture guy who makes sure that all the disparate parts of the committee fall together just right.

John Macht

John is one of our Senior Crisis Directors, and is our resident expert on historical military strategy. He helps make sure that delegates’ battle plans have (relatively) realistic results, and is also our Map Maker. If you see a map on a screen or on a page that looks very real, but not quite historically accurate, you can be sure it’s John’s work!

Elizabeth Bobev

“Lisa” is a Senior Crisis director. As a medically inclined, chemistry-major graduate of USF, Lisa is responsible for making sure that delegate schemes involving diseases and biological weapons have realistic outcomes. She also helps keep Matthew sane.

 

The Dias

These are our staff members who you may see chairing the committee, or manning the dias.
They maintain in-committee order and preserve the flow of debate.

Clare Youngster

Clare previously served as the Head Delegate of the University of Tampa and Florida Virtual School Model UN teams and is an experienced and highly decorated delegate in her own right, Clare’s powerful in-room presence is sure to keep debate gliding and flowing. She knows just how to motivate delegates with well-aimed glares and encouraging smiles.

Collin Greenhalgh

A talented alumnus of the TBHMUN travel team, Collin chairs with a steady hand, and a mirthful grin. He will make sure the committee keeps moving and is always ready to help new delegates learn the ropes and get comfortable with debating and navigating the chaos and fun of Model UN crisis committees.

Alexis Rosario

“Lexi” is an original member of the travel team and our most experienced chairperson, having controlled the goings on of the committee room since 2018. She knows just how to keep things flowing, while still allowing the right jabs and quips that make debate at our committees so much fun!

 

The Backroom Gang

These staffers are the handworking grunts who, despite only being seen during crisis updates, keep the crisis room running by reading and answering crisis notes sent by participating delegates. They’re responsible for keeping track of their assigned delegates’ schemes, and making sure that their delegates’ efforts are well rewarded

David Shiereck

David “Michael” is an alumnus of the travel team and our resident harbinger of chaos. He usually answers crisis notes, but is the kind of fun staffer that might just let you get away with a far-fetched embezzlement scheme or bomb plot!

Rachel Sommers

Rachel has been on staff for a few years now. Her role varies with every committee but often focuses on helping to craft the delivery of crisis updates, capturing images of the insanity of crisis, and making sure the delegates don’t kill each other (unless she’s the one striking the fatal blow).

Patrick Oefelein

Patrick Oefelein is an alumnus of the travel team. He usually focuses on answering crisis notes, and delegates appreciate his thoughtful responses and patient explanations to help them succeed in their efforts.

 

Justin Settle

Justin is an original member of the travel team and one of our most experienced staff members and is great at answering notes with a fun flair. His greatest contribution, however, is undoubtedly his hysterical acting skills. He has brought to life characters such as Teddy Roosevelt and August von Mackensen in a way that no one can forget!

John Paul Bencomo

“J.P.” is a highly experienced delegate, having participated in many committees and conferences. He is an alumnus of the TBHMUN Travel Team and always brings his personal brand of chaos to the committees he staffs.

William Peterson

“Will” Peterson is an alumnus of the travel team. He is an expert in responding to crisis notes, carrying out delegate murders, and making sure that the backroom doesn’t descend into total chaos at every committee.

 

Bart Richter

Bart is an alumnus of the TBHMUN Travel Team. At the time of his graduation, Bart was tied for the most awards ever received by an individual participant in TBHMUN Crisis Committees. He will continue bringing that award-winning experience to the crisis room.