February 23, 2017

Mulhearn to discuss United Nations’ work with NGOs

by Pete Rosenbery

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Thomas Mulhearn, who spent more than 30 years working with various non-governmental organizations including Catholic Relief Services and World Vision, will present a lecture at Southern Illinois University Carbondale next week. 

Mulhearn will discuss, “How the United Nations Helps Boots-on-the-Ground NGO’s” at 7 p.m., Monday, Feb. 27, at the SIU School of Law’s Hiram H. Lesar Building, Room 102.  The event is free and the public is invited. 

Mulhearn’s experience in the Peace Corps in Bolivia inspired him to join Catholic Relief Services in 1973. After working in Latin America and Africa for that organization for 23 years, Mulhearn joined World Vision and worked in East Africa for 10 years. Throughout his NGO career, Mulhearn worked closely with many United Nations agencies, including the World Food Program, UNICEF and UNHCR, the UN’s refugee agency.  Among the work that Mulhearn was involved in was the war in Sudan, the drought in Northern Kenya, and the Ethiopian famine. 

The United Nations Association USA, Southern Illinois Chapter and the law school’s chapter of The International Law Society are event sponsors.