New seminar program intern joins PUNO staff

The Presbyterian United Nations Office welcomes Alexandra Buck as the seminar program coordinator for 2007-2008. Alexandra’s position is administered through the PC(USA) Young Adult Intern program.

During her year of service, Alexandra will coordinate and promote the office’s seminar program, arrange for speakers and workshops on requested topics and provide related educational materials.

When church groups request a seminar, Alexandra researches the topic and gathers materials about its relation to the United Nations and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). She then schedules speakers from U.N. agencies, U.N.-affiliated non-governmental organizations or local Presbyterian offices to share their perspectives on the given topic. Additionally, Alexandra can facilitate discussion, develop workshops and organize interactive city ministry for experiential examination of the given subject.

Alexandra also produces and distributes educational materials for church members and supports the office’s advocacy work in particular as it relates to Colombia and Indigenous Peoples’ rights.

A recent graduate of Macalester College (former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s alma mater!), Alexandra majored in International and Hispanic Studies. She is interested in engaging global social justice issues through a faith lens. Working at PUNO will allow Alexandra to further explore the dedicated peacemaking work of both the PC(USA) and the United Nations — two institutions she has been involved with for years. After her term as Seminar Program Coordinator, Alexandra hopes to move to Latin America to do field-based sustainable human development work.