Benjamin Moore (‘19SPS, United Nations Studies CPA) has led a professional life dedicated to ensuring sustainable development and poverty alleviation in developing countries. He is originally from Denmark, but for the past five years, he has worked with the United Nations in both China and South Sudan.
In Summer 2019, he decided to add to his professional experience by attending Columbia Summer and attaining the United Nations Studies Certificate of Professional Achievement.
We connected with Benjamin to learn a little bit more about his experience in the program:
What were you doing before the United Nations Studies CPA?
I have been working in the United Nations since 2015, first in UNDP in Beijing, China and for the past three years as Coordination and Peacebuilding Coordination Specialist in South Sudan.
What attracted you to the Columbia Summer program?
The Summer program has allowed me to take a step back and reflect on my daily work and responsibilities from an academic perspective and in a more strategic light. This has really helped me better support colleagues across the UN with strategic prioritization and programming
Did you have any particularly helpful professors?
Professors Arthur Boutelis, Michael Heller-Chu and James Rawley have been particularly inspiring during the course work and have since provided guidance and mentorship which I greatly appreciate. The quality of instruction is second to none.
What was your most memorable experience at Columbia?
Sitting at the Butler Library in my Columbia hoodie, studying.
The in-depth understanding of the United Nations system ... has given me ballast in my day-to-day interaction with colleagues at all levels and all parts of the UN system.
— Benjamin Moore, ‘19SPS, United Nations Studies CPA
How have you taken what you learned forward with you in your career?
The in-depth understanding of the United Nations system, the technical skills acquired through the peacebuilding and human rights course and appreciation of the complexity of sustainable development have given me ballast in my day-to-day interaction with colleagues at all levels and all parts of the UN system.
What are you up to now? What are your hopes for the future?
I have returned to work and apply my learnings in the programmatic work I am responsible across the peace & security, humanitarian and development nexus.
Learn more about the United Nations Studies Certificate of Professional Achievement at Columbia Summer.
