October 20, 2026
On Oct. 26, Johnson County Community College (JCCC) will host Stéphane Dujarric, the official Spokesperson for United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres.
“When the World is Watching: Communicating through Global Crisis”
Monday, Oct. 26, 2026
Noon to 1 p.m. CT
The CoLab Collaboration Center at JCCC (Office and Classroom Building, 100)
The event is free and open to all JCCC students and members of the Johnson County community.
Opportunities for JCCC Students
Prior to the talk, Dujarric will speak privately with JCCC students in the Global Awareness Program (GAP) and the College’s award-winning Model United Nations team.
“When we think about the world, we tend to think that issues exist "over there" and don't impact or involve us directly,” said Karen Miller, JCCC Director of Global Engagement. “Understanding global issues is key to understanding local issues, because they often are caused and resolved through interconnected actions. The Global Engagement office is committed to providing opportunities for students and our community to not only learn about these topics, but get involved in efforts towards progress — it all starts with knowledge.”
JCCC’s GAP is designed to cultivate future global professionals through interdisciplinary studies, global opportunities, foreign language proficiency, and reflective learning, who delve into the complexities and interconnected nature of the world.
GAP students participate in an 8-week orientation covering topics like culture, the connection between language and perception, and an introduction to international and intergovernmental organizations. In the program’s capstone course, students learn the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in both local and global contexts, to analyze situations critically, and deepen their understanding of the causes and ramifications of global issues. The GAP helps students to prepare for professional futures of any kind, but particularly those involving global relations.
JCCC’s Model United Nations (Model UN or MUN) program provides students with a unique opportunity to experience international diplomacy firsthand. Students serve as delegates representing countries in simulated United Nations committees, research global issues, negotiate solutions, draft resolutions, and engage in diplomatic problem-solving. Thousands of college students across the country and around the world participate in MUN, which develops valuable skills in research, public speaking, writing, negotiation, critical thinking, teamwork, and leadership.
The JCCC MUN Team has a long-standing record of success competing against college-level model UNs from major universities worldwide and has received awards at every Model United Nations conference attended in the last 18 years. Most recently, the JCCC MUN received the prestigious Outstanding Delegation award at the 2026 National Model United Nations Conference in New York City.
Stéphane Dujarric Bio
Dujarric began his career as a journalist but currently serves as the Spokesperson for the United Nations Secretary-General. He was appointed to this position in February 2014 by the previous Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon.
As Spokesperson, Dujarric provides information to the global media on the activities of the Secretary-General and the entire United Nations system, through daily live-streamed briefings, official statements, media interviews and off-the-record conversations. He and his team advise the Secretary-General and other senior UN officials on their media interactions, and coordinate interviews and briefings with media outlets around the world.
Dujarric began his career with the United Nations 22 years ago as an Associate Spokesperson. After serving as chief spokesperson for former Secretary-General Kofi Annan from 2005 to 2006, he led communications teams in senior roles across the UN system. As Director of News and Media, he oversaw the UN's television, radio and photo operations, and as Director of Communications for the United Nations Development Programme, he helped to tell the UN’s story around the world.
Prior to joining the United Nations, Dujarric worked for ABC News for almost 10 years as a journalist and producer in New York, London and Paris.
Born in France, Dujarric is a graduate of Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service in Washington, D.C.
UNA-GKC
This event at JCCC was made possible in part by the United Nations Association of Greater Kansas City (UNA-GKC).
UNA-GKC represents members in western Missouri and eastern Kansas dedicated to educating, inspiring, and mobilizing the Greater Kansas City Area to support the principles and vital work of the United Nations, strengthening the United Nations system, promoting constructive United States leadership, and achieving the goals of the United Nations Charter.
Dujarric will also be the keynote speaker at UNA-GKC’s 55th Annual Mayor's UN Day Dinner on October 26. Learn more at una-kc.org.
About JCCC
JCCC has embraced a mission to inspire learning to transform lives and strengthen communities since the College opened its doors in 1969. As the largest community college in Kansas and the Kansas City metropolitan area, JCCC offers more than 80 degree and certificate programs and is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
JCCC also has a longstanding connection to global engagement and international education. In 2015, JCCC Model United Nations hosted a United Nations Foundation regional conference on campus to help inform the development of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The College Archives also preserve an original United Nations flag that flew over Kansas City's Wheeler Field on June 27, 1945, during President Harry S. Truman's return to the Kansas City area following the United Nations Conference in San Francisco.
CONTACT:
Emma Swinney
Public and Media Relations Coordinator
[email protected]
913-469-8500, ext. 4949
Chris Gray
VP, Strategic Communications & Marketing
[email protected]
913-469-8500, ext. 7623
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