The Cleveland Council on World Affairs is pleased to welcome Lydia Johnson as its new Associate for Student Programs. In this role, Lydia oversees CCWA’s Model UN conferences and supports CCWA’s other global education programming.
Lydia brings to CCWA a strong background in international relations and global education, having worked in the nonprofit and government sectors supporting peacebuilding, K-8 out-of-schooltime programming, international relations fellowships, and international development.
Lydia is currently working towards her Master’s in International Education Management from The Middlebury Institute of International Studies, and she received two Bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Spanish from Howard University. She previously worked as a Youth Support Specialist with University Settlement serving K-8 out-of-schooltime programming. She is a Fulbright (Panama) and Gilman (Senegal) alumna. As an undergraduate student, Lydia participated in Model NATO and Model African Union conferences and supported Model UN conferences and BRICS diplomatic simulations.
Lydia has a deep dedication to global education and aims to create meaningful international learning experiences for young people: “I am so excited to step into this role and contribute to CCWA’s mission to cultivating the next generation of global leaders. I have a deep passion for using education as a diplomatic tool and have spent much of my career bridging education with international affairs and cultural exchange,” reflects Lydia.
CCWA’s Model UN program is one of the oldest Model UN programs in the world, dating back to the founding of the United Nations in 1945. Today, CCWA engages nearly 2,000 students from over 55 schools each year through its Model UN conferences and workshops. “I am so excited to join this organization and foster the partnerships and relationships that make our Model UN program so great! As we prepare for the upcoming conferences, I look forward to getting to working with the teachers and students in CCWA’s Model UN program.”
Please join us in welcoming Lydia to the CCWA family! You can reach her at lyjohnson@ccwa.org to say hello and to connect about the Model UN program.
UPDATES FROM CCWA
CCWA Announces the 2026-2027 Richard W. Pogue Fellows
We are pleased to welcome the Cleveland Council on World Affairs’ 2026-2027 Richard W. Pogue Fellows. The Fellowship offers emerging leaders in our community the opportunity to participate in in-depth foreign policy discussions and network…
CCWA Announces the Carter E. Strang Young Professionals Advisory Committee Class of 2026-2028
CCWA Announces the Carter E. Strang Young Professionals Advisory Committee Class of 2026-2028 The Cleveland Council on World Affairs welcomes new members to our Carter E. Strang Young Professionals Advisory Committee (YPAC). YPAC is a…
Travel with CCWA: Launching Destination Helsinki
Travel with CCWA on an immersive, small group journey to Helsinki, Finland. From the UNESCO-listed Suomenlinna Sea Fortress to the modern Oodi Library, Helsinki is a place where history and the future come together. This…
Contribute to Global Connections
SUPPORT THE CLEVELAND COUNCIL ON WORLD AFFAIRS
For a century, the CCWA has brought diverse perspectives on issues of international import to Cleveland. Much of our programming is made possible by the the support of our members and the generosity of our donors. Will you help us continue to create global connections?