CBSHS Alumni Spotlight: Political science alumna discovers passion for diplomacy through Model UN

Meet Kimairis (Kim) Toogood, a 2003 political science graduate and peace and development advisor for the United Nations in Nigeria.

Kim Toogood '03 knows firsthand how new experiences can change the trajectory of a person's life. Growing up surrounded by lawyers and politicians in Washington, D.C., Toogood always believed she would attend law school and, one day, forge her own path as a lawyer.

In the fall of 1999, her sights were set on law school when she enrolled at Clemson University and declared a double major in political science and English, but her father encouraged her to stay open to other possibilities, venture outside her comfort zone and pursue new interests during her time as a student.

As a sophomore, Toogood took his advice and joined Model United Nations (MUN), an extracurricular activity and elective class within the Department of Political Science where students roleplay as delegates to the United Nations (UN), learn diplomacy and international relations and compete in academic simulations of the United Nations General Assembly and its other multilateral bodies to solve real-world issues.

It was during this time that Toogood discovered her passion for prevention, peacemaking, peacekeeping and peacebuilding and talent for presenting arguments, gathering facts and accepting challenges diplomatically - a realization that would halt her plans for law school and change the course of her life.

"It was as if a lightbulb went off, and I knew what I was meant to do with my life," said Toogood. "You can be good at something and not love it, but should you stop doing what you are good at to pursue what you love? Model UN showed me I could combine my passion for diplomacy with the debate skills I had been honing as a pre-law student to pursue a fulfilling career where my strengths would make a positive difference."

She served as a Model UN representative in the University's homecoming court during her senior year.

After earning a bachelor's degree in political science and English from Clemson, Toogood earned a master's degree in international conflict analysis from King's College London and a doctoral degree in conflict resolution and peacebuilding from George Mason University.

Over the course of her career, she has served as a peacebuilding officer and advisor in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia and Nigeria and Ethiopia in Africa while also providing peacebuilding support to other countries such as Honduras, Mali, Liberia, Kenya, Myanmar and the Philippines. She has worked for the United States Department of State, International Alert and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in peacebuilding and conflict prevention capacities. Currently, she serves as a peace and development advisor for the UN in Nigeria.

In her role, Toogood supports the UN resident and humanitarian coordinator to Nigeria, Mohamed Malick Fall, in his effort to coordinate and lead humanitarian and development action between agencies, local government and citizens. She builds capacity for peaceful co-existence among communities and government officials and supports initiatives to strengthen peacebuilding and social cohesion.

"Our paths in life are often nonlinear," said Toogood, "and new experiences can open new doors and spark new passions. If I could offer any advice to current and future students, it would be to broaden your horizons, pursue knowledge and carry the College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences mission to build people and communities with you throughout your lives. No matter which professional path you take, seize every opportunity to make a positive difference in someone's life."

The Department of Political Science is in the College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences (CBSHS). Established in July 2016, CBSHS is a 21st-century, land-grant college that combines work in seven disciplines - communication; nursing; parks, recreation and tourism management; political science; psychology; public health sciences; sociology, anthropology and criminal justice - to further its mission of "building people and communities" in South Carolina and beyond.