Internship at the United Nations  

Naomi A. Shuyama, Diplomacy-Catholic Studies Major graduating in 2018, interned for the United Nations. This is what Naomi has to say about her internship at the UN and how her Catholic Studies major shaped her dedication to peace building. 

"I had a great opportunity to serve as an intern for the United Nations' annual CTAN (Committee on Teaching About the United Nations) and took charge of all of CTAUN's official social media handles. A previous Diplomacy/Catholic Studies graduate, Brianna Fitzpatrick, asked me to help lay the foundation for a bigger following and more respectable online presence. I very much enjoyed listening to the conference, which focused on Stepping up to Protect the World's Children. Ambassador Anwarul Chowdhury, the Former Under-Secretary General and High Representative of the UN defined a culture of peace as one which "Goes beyond peace, envisions that peace & nonviolence becomes a part of our daily existence—what we say, do and think about. We need to change each one of us individually to make sure that we can handle the challenges of life with an emphasis on nonviolence." Ambassador Chowdhury then added that the promotion of the culture of peace will be achieved, "By sowing the seeds of this culture in early childhood development." 

CTAUN increased my awareness of the Sustainable Development Goal's and provided data on the socio-political conflicts which affect children while my studies in interfaith, interbelief and interreligious dialogue gave me insight into the major values and convictions at global, state, communal and individual levels.

As a Catholic Studies major, I was given a solid foundation on Catholic Social Teachings, which allowed me to analyze papal encyclicals in order to understand official Church doctrine on central issues. Employing the skills I learned in courses that emphasize moral, "truth" and "justice" coupled with an undergraduate education which champions servant leadership, I was able to see two of my passions collide. CTAUN and Catholic Studies courses strengthened my belief that education is the most crucial avenue in the accomplishment and sustainability of peace."

About Catholic Studies: 
The Catholic Studies Program at Seton Hall University offers an innovative, interdisciplinary curriculum for students of any creed who are interested in deepening their knowledge of Catholicism's rich intellectual tradition and living heritage. Combining the study of history, philosophy, theology, literature, art, sociology, and other disciplines, Catholic Studies focuses on the church's dialogue with culture and encounter with the world. Students interested in Catholic Studies have the option to pursue a major, minor, or certificate that complements and enhances the University's other degree programs and fields of study.