The Sickuation Room
Obama’s National Security Council, 2014
The question is not simply how to stop the outbreak—
“… it is whether you can do so without unraveling the very systems meant to contain it.”
In 2014, Ebola, a deadly virus, moved silently across borders, outpacing bureaucracy, outmaneuvering infrastructure, and exposing the fragility of global health systems. What begins as a regional outbreak soon threatens international stability, economic security, and public trust. In a world more connected than ever before, distance offers no protection—and hesitation carries a cost. The United States is no exception. No one is safe from this disease.
At the center of the response sits the Obama Administration’s National Security Council, where science, politics, and strategy collide. In this high-stakes crisis committee, delegates will step into the Sickuation Room, tasked with confronting the Ebola epidemic as it escalates into a national and global emergency. Every decision—whether to deploy troops, restrict travel, fund international aid, or manage public messaging—will ripple far beyond U.S. borders.
But the virus is only part of the challenge. Panic spreads faster than infection. Misinformation undermines even the best-laid plans. Delegates must act decisively in the face of uncertainty, balancing humanitarian urgency with political reality, all while the clock ticks. The question is not simply how to stop the outbreak—it is whether you can do so without unraveling the very systems meant to contain it.
Welcome to The Situation ROom
The United States is no exception. No one is safe from this disease.
What will you do?
Meet the Team
-
![]()
Elizabeth Koenck
CHAIR
Elizabeth is a Class of 2027 student in the School of Foreign Service studying International Politics and Economics. She is originally from Colorado, but has lived in Morocco, Italy, and South Africa. Elizabeth has been doing MUN since she was a freshman in high school and has competed with GUMUN, staffed NCSC for the past three years, and even travelled to Ethiopia and China to hold conferences with GIRA Global. In her free time, Elizabeth loves to read anything and everything, hike in the great outdoors, and bake crazy concoctions without measuring or following a recipe (she promises they actually taste really good!). Elizabeth is also a TA for the Maps of the Modern World class, and can probably name more countries than you can, so give it a shot!
-
![]()
Kezban Duzenli-Cetin
CRISIS MANAGER
Kezban Duzenli-Cetin is a member of the Class of 2027 in the School of Foreign Service, majoring in International Politics. Kezban grew up in Pittsburgh, but if you know her, you definitely know she calls Turkey her home. She is a member of the Georgetown International Relations Club's on the Chief of Staff board. She’s also involved with staffing conferences: she has served as Secretary General of NAIMUN China VIII, Georgetown’s conference in China. In her free time, she loves to dance and write music, try new foods and baking recipes, watch every cop show under the sun, or talk about the World Cup and how Turkey made it this year. She’s spent the last two summers running National Security Council Simulations for high schoolers, so she is very excited to run the National Security Council for college students! If you have any questions, concerns, or want to hear about why everyone should go to Turkey, please feel free to reach out.
-
![]()
ASSOCIATED STAFF
OTHER MEMBERS
Director: Justin Liu
CAs/RAPs: Diya Jain, Ana Centro
-
![]()
Isabelle Kocher
UNDER SECRETARY-GENERAL
Isabelle Kocher is a member of the class of 2029 in Georgetown’s Walsh School of Foreign Service, majoring in International Political Economy and intending to minor in Spanish. Isabelle is so incredibly grateful for this opportunity to be your USG of Councils (obviously the best organ but you didn’t hear that from her) and she cannot wait to see you in Washington this fall!
