Florida State University’s International Programs offers study abroad opportunities in locations across the world, including study centers in London, England; Florence, Italy; Valencia, Spain, a branch campus in Panama City, Republic of Panama as well as faculty-led programs in over 10 other locations. 

FSU is ranked No. 1 among public universities and No. 4 overall for long-term study abroad enrollments in the Institute for International Education’s Open Doors 2025 Report. FSU also ranked No. 10 among public universities and No. 12 overall for number of students studying abroad, with 2,702 students participating in programs in the 2023-2024 academic year. 

Through their First Year Abroad (FYA) and First Semester Abroad (FSA) programs, incoming first-year students at FSU have the opportunity to spend either their first semester or first year of college abroad at FSU’s study centers in Florence, London, Valencia or its branch campus in Panama City, Republic of Panama. The FYA and FSA programs celebrated nearly 3,000 program alumni during their 20th anniversary in the fall of 2025.  

“FSU has a long history of looking beyond its borders and creating opportunities for students to experience the world firsthand,” said Louisa Blenman, executive director of International Programs. “We look forward to continuing to provide traditional study abroad programs while also creating new opportunities for students and faculty to showcase the strengths of the university around the globe.” 

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As the fall semester gets underway at Florida State University, students and faculty are settling into a new academic year while reflecting on the experiences that took them beyond campus this summer. 

Whether taking classes at one of FSU’s study centers abroad, completing an international internship or volunteering in a new community, FSU students and faculty spent the summer learning, growing and making connections around the world. 

Italy 

At the FSU Florence Study Center, students enrolled in the Communication and Media in Florence program through International Programs and spent five weeks producing the summer issue of “Il Ponte,” a magazine publication promoting both the program and the local community.  

The program provides students with unique hands-on communication and media experience through direct interactions with Italian clients, giving students an opportunity to learn more about the editing, writing, design and social media aspects of publishing.  

Each summer, the students and instructor work together to choose a theme for that edition of the magazine. The theme for this summer’s issue was “Reducing Overtourism and Promoting City Beatification.” 

“We want our magazine to go beyond simply showcasing Florence as a beautiful spot for tourists,” said Jaejin Lee, professor at the College of Communication and Information and the course instructor this summer. “Instead, I encouraged students to think critically about how visitors can enjoy and appreciate the city while respecting its residents, environment and cultures.” 

The cohort volunteered with Fondazione Angeli del Bello (“The Angels of Beauty Foundation”), a local nonprofit dedicated to protecting Florence’s environment and improving its shared urban spaces. The cohort collaborated with the foundation on cleaning and beautification projects, giving students a broader perspective on their experience abroad as temporary residents of Florence rather than tourists.  

“I hope that future students of FSU Florence continue to strive to keep the city beautiful by properly discarding their waste and volunteering with foundations like Angeli del Bello to fully participate as a temporary citizen of Italy,” said Rachel Wynn, a senior pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management from the Herbert Wertheim College of Business at FSU who participated in the program this summer. 

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Four Florida State University students have been selected for the 2026-2027 Fulbright U.S. Student Program. These accomplished students will travel to New Zealand, Spain, Thailand and the United Kingdom to teach, study and engage in cultural exchange as part of the U.S. Department of State’s flagship international educational exchange program.  

“The Fulbright Program strengthens connections between Florida State University and the wider world,” said Keith McCall, assistant director of the Office of Graduate Fellowships and Awards. “Through research, teaching and cultural exchange, FSU’s Fulbright recipients advance knowledge, address global challenges and foster mutual understanding. We are always eager to support students as they pursue opportunities to learn, collaborate and make an impact across borders.” 

The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s premier international exchange initiative, fostering mutual understanding between U.S. citizens and people around the world. Funded primarily through an annual appropriation from the U.S. Congress to the Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the program also benefits from support provided by partner governments, host institutions and private organizations across the globe. 

Fulbright U.S. Student Program recipients are selected each year for their academic or professional excellence and leadership potential. With opportunities in more than 160 countries, the program empowers students and recent graduates to teach, study or conduct research while serving as cultural ambassadors for the United States. 

The 2026-2027 Fulbright U.S. Student Program recipients from FSU are Josephine Whelan, Imani Sameem, Laurel Field and Harrison Betz. 

“Whether in the field or in the classroom, the FSU community continues to shine abroad through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program,” said Bonnie Garcia-Gloeckner, associate director of the Office of National Fellowships. “This coming year will be impactful for Josephine, Imani, Laurel and Harrison, as well as the communities in which they will be working. We look forward to hearing about their experiences.”

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Florida State University’s College of Music has launched a new interactive webpage showcasing the global reach of its students and faculty. 

The webpage uses an interactive map to highlight College of Music activities around the world and illustrate how international experiences are shaping teaching, research and performance at FSU. 

Sarah Eyerly, associate dean for research and faculty development, and Greg Jones, associate dean for artistic planning, led the creation of the webpage in collaboration with Jeremy Katz, a research impact librarian, and Krista Rockne, research impact assistant with FSU Libraries.

This project is part of a broader initiative by FSU Libraries to partner with academic departments across campus. By providing advanced digital scholarship, spatial mapping, and data infrastructure support, the library helps faculty showcase research impact and community engagement that traditional metrics often overlook.

“As part of the college’s strategic vision, one of our key focus areas is ‘Connecting with Local and Global Communities,’” said Todd Queen, dean of the FSU College of Music. “The FSU College of Music is a global leader in music education, and this mapping project vividly demonstrates the extraordinary reach and impact of our faculty and students as they connect with communities around the world through music.” 

“The FSU College of Music is a global leader in music education, and this mapping project vividly demonstrates the extraordinary reach and impact of our faculty and students as they connect with communities around the world through music.”

– College of Music Dean Todd Queen

This spring, College of Music leaders visited universities and arts organizations in Thailand and Singapore to explore potential partnerships. The delegation included Queen along with Liz Avery, associate dean for academic affairs, and Lori Gooding, director of the college’s Music Therapy Program. 

In Thailand, the delegation traveled to Salaya to meet with representatives at Mahidol University’s College of Music and discuss opportunities for faculty, research and collaborations. 

In Singapore, the delegation met with representatives from the LASALLE College of the Arts, a globally ranked institution for performing arts education that serves as a constituent college of the University of the Arts Singapore. The connection to LASALLE was made through Indra Selvarajah, an FSU alumna who earned her Ph.D. in Music Education/Music Therapy from the College of Music in 2013. Selvarajah leads LASALLE’s master’s program in Music Therapy.  

The group also met with representatives from SEADOM, a Southeast Asia cultural and educational network that includes 70 member institutions in 10 countries, to explore opportunities for collaboration. They also attended the organization’s annual conference to connect with other regional leaders. 

FSU College of Music students are building international connections of their own. Phee Phupaibul, a student from Thailand pursuing a Doctor of Music in guitar performance, planned and organized a trip for FSU students to attend the Mahidol International Classical Guitar Forum in June at Mahidol University’s College of Music in Salaya, Thailand.  

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Three members of Florida State University’s Learning Systems Institute (LSI) will present at European conferences focusing on AI in education, reinforcing the institute as a leading force when it comes to AI in teaching and learning.  

Rabieh Razzouk, director of LSI; Carrie Meyers, director of education and workforce talent at FSU’s Institute for Strategic Partnerships, Innovation, Research, and Education, or FSU InSPIRE; and Jim Reynolds, LSI’s director of STEM outreach, will represent FSU at international conferences this semester in Paris and the Netherlands. 

The presentations highlight the recognition LSI’s work has earned internationally in the field of AI in education. Meyers and Reynolds are leading the development of an AI education pathway as part of FSU’s InSPIRE project and have delivered presentations on this topic to numerous audiences throughout Florida. Razzouk has developed and implemented an AI-assisted instructional support system for Florida’s teachers and is using AI on the Early Grade Education Activity in Jordan, which aims to strengthen Jordan’s early grade education system.  

“We are honored to have our team asked to join the global conversation on how to utilize AI in education,” Razzouk said. “LSI has worked to become a leader in utilizing AI for education, workforce development, AI-powered learning tools and research and innovation in the field. We are thankful that FSU champions innovative research in the field and understands this work raises public awareness and fuels lasting impact in this rapidly growing field.” 

Razzouk will present at UNESCO’s Digital Learning Week 2026 in Paris, which takes place Sept. 8-11 this year under the theme of “Education in the age of AI: Facts, Frictions, Frontiers. The annual event aims to foster critical reflection and meaningful collaboration in advancing the ethical and human-centered digital transformation of education. His presentation, “Customizing Standards-Aligned Lessons with AI: The CPALMS Experience,” will demonstrate an AI-assisted instructional support system designed to help teachers efficiently adapt existing standards-aligned educational resources to better meet students’ needs. 

Razzouk has previously spoken on AI in education. Last year, LSI partnered with the World Bank and UNESCO to host “Educators Shaping Futures: A Global Knowledge Exchange on Teacher Preparation and Development.” During the event, which took place Nov. 2-4, 2025, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and drew more than 340 policymakers, teacher educators, researchers and practitioners from 41 countries, Razzouk participated in a panel examining the roles and risks of AI in teacher education and development. 

“At LSI, we made a commitment to artificial intelligence as a core capability that strengthens every aspect of work,” Razzouk said. “The vision is already becoming reality as our team has been building and delivering high-quality professional learning that equips educators to effectively and responsibly integrate artificial intelligence into teaching and learning.” 

Next month, Meyers and Reynolds will present at the inaugural “Teaching and Learning with AI in Europe” conference in Breda, Netherlands. The conference, which takes place Oct. 19-20 and is co-hosted by Breda University and University of Central Florida, aims to establish cross-border collaboration in Europe to share ideas, best practices and innovation in AI in higher education.  

“It is exciting to share the AI in education work we are leading for FSU InSPIRE and to showcase the pathways we are creating for educators and students,” Meyers said. “Just as important is the opportunity to learn from others and to discover where our challenges intersect, exchange successful approaches, and identify innovative ideas from around the world. Our students are entering an increasingly global and competitive workforce, and collaboration like this helps ensure they are prepared not only to participate in that future, but to lead it.” 

Drawing on examples created by educators in FSU’s InSPIRE program, Meyers will lead the presentation “From Content to Comics: Using AI-Supported Graphic Novels to Teach Complex Concepts,” discussing how AI can help faculty and instructional designers create comics, graphic novels, e-readers and other visual learning materials that invite students into challenging ideas without reducing rigor. 

Reynolds will lead the presentation “From Prompt to Possibility: Co-Designing Thought-Revealing Activities with AI,” where he will explore how educators can use prompt engineering to co-design authentic, thought-revealing activities grounded in the research behind model-eliciting activities. 

“When other public universities look at what FSU is accomplishing — from our data-driven campus culture to our deeply engaged faculty, staff and students — they see a path forward,” said Paul Marty, associate vice provost for Academic Innovation and professor in the School of Information in the College of Communication and Information. “We are proving that a top public research university can lead the nation in adopting disruptive innovations while keeping student learning and the public good at the center of everything we do.” 

For more information about LSI, visit lsi.fsu.edu. To learn more about FSU’s global footprint, visit global.fsu.edu. 

About LSI 

The Learning Systems Institute (LSI) partners with schools, universities, governments and industry to research, develop, implement and evaluate AI solutions that improve educational outcomes while promoting responsible and human-centered use of artificial intelligence. LSI combines educational research, AI software development, instructional design, open educational resources, professional learning and large-scale implementation into integrated solutions. From developing AI-powered technologies to preparing educators and institutions for responsible AI adoption, LSI helps partners move beyond experimentation to meaningful, evidence-based impact. 

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Florida State University Vice President for Student Affairs Amy Hecht has received a Fulbright International Education Administrators (IEA) Award, giving her the opportunity to strengthen FSU’s global engagement while exploring higher education systems abroad.  

Fulbright IEA Awards are two-week seminars that give U.S. higher education administrators the opportunity to learn about other countries’ higher education systems, exchange best practices, explore potential institutional partnerships and strengthen their institutions’ international engagement. 

Hecht will travel to France in October for a program focused on the country’s higher education and research system. The program includes briefings, campus visits, meetings with government officials and international education professionals, networking opportunities and cultural activities. 

“Receiving a Fulbright International Education Administrators Award is a tremendous honor,” Hecht said. “I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to engage with colleagues in France, learn from their approaches to higher education and student success and bring new ideas and partnerships back to Florida State University. I look forward to this experience with great enthusiasm and a spirit of collaboration.” 

“I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to engage with colleagues in France, learn from their approaches to higher education and student success and bring new ideas and partnerships back to Florida State University.” 

— Amy Hecht, FSU Vice President for Student Affairs

During the program, Hecht will also explore ways to strengthen support for student study abroad opportunities and faculty research collaborations while laying the groundwork for future partnerships between FSU and French institutions. 

The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational and cultural exchange program, fostering mutual understanding through academic and professional exchanges in more than 160 countries. 

Hecht joins seven FSU faculty members who received Fulbright U.S. Scholar Awards for the 2026-2027 academic year. Those scholars will conduct work in Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Belgium, Vietnam and India. 

“It is especially meaningful to join the distinguished community of Florida State Fulbright recipients,” Hecht said. “The achievements of our faculty scholars reflect FSU’s enduring commitment to global engagement, and I am proud to contribute to that tradition while advancing opportunities for our students, faculty and staff.” 

FSU has reciprocal student exchange agreements with three institutions in France: MICEFA (Mission Interuniversitaire de Coordination des Échanges Franco-Américains), a consortium of 18 Paris-area universities; NEOMA Business School, with campuses in Paris, Reims and Rouen;, and the University of Strasbourg.  

Through FSU’s Global Exchange Programs, administered by the Center for Global Engagement within the Division of Student Affairs, FSU students can study abroad while earning academic credit and paying FSU tuition and fees. The program also welcomes exchange students from partner universities around the world.  

FSU also has two study abroad programs in France through International Programs.  

The Dance in Paris program is designed to immerse the dance enthusiast in a unique curriculum combining technique classes at various dance academies and conservatories in Paris with the study of French culture, adding further context to the program.  

The Intensive French program is offered in partnership with the Institut Catholique de Paris, one of the country’s most prestigious language schools. Students are taught entirely in French by native-speaking faculty after placement into the course best suited for their proficiency level.  

“Florida State already enjoys strong and valued relationships with institutions in France, and I hope this experience will help us build upon those connections in ways that expand study abroad opportunities, foster innovative collaborations and deepen the ties between our communities for years to come,” Hecht said.  

FSU faculty interested in learning more about applying for Fulbright Program funding can contact Peggy Wright-Cleveland, director of Faculty Development in the Office of Faculty Development and Advancement, at mwrightcleveland@admin.fsu.edu or (850) 645-8202. 

To learn more about FSU’s global footprint, visit global.fsu.edu. For more information about the Division of Student Affairs at FSU, visit studentaffairs.fsu.edu.  

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Seven faculty members from Florida State University have received Fulbright U.S. Scholar Awards for the 2026-27 academic year from the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.

FSU’s seven scholars will travel to Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Belgium, Vietnam and India to teach, conduct research and engage with colleagues in their fields.

The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational and cultural exchange program. Led by the U.S. government in partnership with 160 countries worldwide, Fulbright offers programs for passionate and accomplished students, scholars, teachers, artists and professionals of all backgrounds to study, teach and conduct research. Participants enrich their education, advance their careers and make meaningful contributions to communities abroad and at home.

In addition, FSU’s Vice President for Student Affairs Amy Hecht received a Fulbright International Education Administrators (IEA) Award, which supports two-week seminars for U.S. higher education administrators to learn about participating countries’ higher education systems, exchange information on best practices and explore the potential for partnerships with institutions of higher education in the host country.

Hecht will use the award in France, where she will participate in briefings, campus visits, appointments with government officials, networking and cultural activities and meetings with French international education professionals to familiarize herself with France’s higher education and research system.

The 2026-2027 Fulbright Scholars from FSU are: 

Jim Lile, a professor at the School of Theatre in the College of Fine Arts, will use the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award to teach courses about Western production practices and conduct research on Asian production methods at National Taiwan University in Taipei, Taiwan, during the spring 2027 semester. 

Lile brings 25 years of experience in live theater. He was first invited to Taipei in October 2023 to conduct a series of master classes based on his experience with the Western theatrical technical production methods used for opera, musicals, plays and dance. The short visit provided such a valuable opportunity that Lile wanted to return to Taipei to continue teaching and learning more about live performance practices in Asia.  

By focusing on the various organizational structures, training techniques and uses of text, movement and music to tell stories, Lile will explore how cultural values and traditions are reflected in technical production methods. 

“I hope to build an international network with theater designers and technicians and create long-term collaboration opportunities in Taiwan and other regional countries,” Lile said. “Taiwan’s multicultural history offers rich opportunities to study the diverse traditions and histories of Asian live performance.” 

Judith Pascoe, the George Mills Harper Professor in the Department of English in the College of Arts and Sciences, will expand on her research and teaching interests in Nara, Japan, through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program starting in March.  

This is Pascoe’s second Fulbright award to Japan. She previously received the Fulbright Japan Lecturing Award for the 2009-2010 academic year while teaching at the University of Iowa. This experience led to her writing “On the Bullet Train with Emily Brontë: ‘Wuthering Heights’ in Japan,” an account of her quest to discover the reasons for the continuous Japanese embrace of the novel “Wuthering Heights” by Emily Brontë. 

Pascoe will teach classes and continue her research on Japanese adaptations of world literature at Nara Women’s University from March to August 2027. Her classes will draw from her experience as a specialist in nineteenth-century literature, while her research will focus on why certain works have gained popularity among youth demographics.  

“I look forward to fine-tuning the teaching strategies I cultivated for use in Japanese classrooms, to forging relationships with new Japanese colleagues and to learning about present-day Japanese challenges,” Pascoe said. “The Fulbright support for the humanities is a tremendously strong force for kindness, empathy and cross-cultural solidarity.” 

Hui Wang, an associate professor in the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, will conduct collaborative research at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore from January to July 2027 through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program.  

While at NTU, Wang will collaborate with colleagues on a research project focused on improving manufacturing quality control and process design in advanced production systems, particularly 3D printing.  

The project combines process simulations, sensor measurements and engineering knowledge to better understand how manufacturing conditions affect product quality. 

“Singapore provides a unique environment where advanced manufacturing and data-driven engineering innovation are closely integrated,” Wang said. “Beyond the technical research, I value the cultural exchange aspect of Fulbright very highly. I believe there is much to learn from Singapore’s emphasis on discipline, efficiency and engineering rigor, while also sharing perspectives from the U.S. research environment that encourage open discussion, interdisciplinary exploration and student-centered mentoring. 

Aleksandra Zimmerman, the Ed McIntyre Associate Professor of Business Administration in the Department of Accounting at the Herbert Wertheim College of Business, will carry out research in Antwerp, Belgium, during the fall and spring semesters.

Zimmerman will work with researchers at the University of Antwerp and Vrije Universiteit Brussel, where she will collaborate with faculty on research and engage with students and scholars on topics related to accounting and auditing, human capital and labor markets, and regulatory policy. Her research project will focus on accounting and business with a particular emphasis on issues related to emerging trends and to the accounting and auditing profession and regulation policies in a global context.

The project seeks to address how different institutional structures, cultural norms and regulatory environments influence accounting, auditing and business practices and decision making. Through collaborative research and scholarly exchange, Zimmerman aims to better understand how institutional and cultural settings shape business practices, regulation and standard setting.

“Belgium is an ideal location for this work given its central role in European regulatory and economic systems,” Zimmerman said. “I am most looking forward to the collaborative aspect of the Fulbright experience, working closely with international colleagues, engaging with students, and immersing myself in the academic and cultural life of Belgium and visiting other schools in Europe. Fulbright support is particularly important for accounting and business because these fields are deeply shaped by global economic forces and international regulation.” 

Biwu Ma, professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry in the College of Arts and Sciences, will also travel to Belgium to conduct research at the University of Antwerp during the upcoming fall and spring semesters through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program. He will spend the academic year merging material science and medical physics to improve how ultra-high dose rate radiotherapies monitor radiation in real-time. 

With recent advancements in FLASH radiotherapy, an emerging cancer treatment shown to reduce damage to healthy tissue while delivering high rates of radiation at extreme speeds, comes a need to create radiation dosimeters that reliably detect dosages. Ma’s work focuses on developing organic-inorganic hybrid scintillation materials to provide accurate, real-time dose monitoring and enhance treatment precision. 

“The (University of Antwerp) provides a unique environment where materials science can be directly connected to clinically relevant validation and translational research,” Ma said. “The award emphasizes the importance of international collaboration in driving scientific innovation and translating fundamental discoveries into real-world societal impact.” 

Frankie Wong, the McKenzie Endowed Professor in the College of Nursing and founding director of the Center of Population Sciences for Health Empowerment, will travel to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, next spring to further his research at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities at National Vietnam University (VNU-USSH).

Wong, who has visited Vietnam nearly 10 times in the past decade and has previously worked in countries like China, Russia, South Africa and Tajikistan, will further his work examining HIV-related stigma intervention among high-risk men in Ho Chi Minh City, the largest city in Vietnam with the highest rate of HIV in the country. His work seeks to encourage more people to engage in HIV research, which can lead to more cutting-edge strategies to mitigate and/or prevent this global burden. 

“The Fulbright Fellowship will allow me to have an immersive experience. I believe I have the temperament, humility and appreciation of American culture to serve as an effective cultural ambassador for the U.S.,” he said. 

Paromita Sanyal, an associate professor of Sociology in the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy and research associate at FSU’s Center for Demography and Population Health, will travel to India using the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award.

Sanyal specializes in international development, gender, economic and political sociology. Her research examines large-scale programs aimed at inducing development, women’s empowerment and financial inclusion.

As a member of the World Bank’s Social Observatory team, which is based in India and tracks projects aiming to eradicate poverty and improve livelihoods around the world, she uses her insights to understand the impact of socioeconomic interventions on women in India. She will expand upon this work during her Fulbright experience.   

Since 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided more than 400,000 talented and accomplished students, scholars, teachers, artists and professionals of all backgrounds with the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research abroad. Fulbrighters exchange ideas, build connections, and work to address complex global challenges. Notable Fulbrighters include 62 Nobel Laureates, 89 Pulitzer Prize winners, 80 MacArthur Fellows, 41 heads of state or government, and thousands of leaders across the private, public and non-profit sectors.  

More than 800 individuals teach or conduct research abroad through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program annually. In addition, over 2,000 Fulbright U.S. Student Program participants — recent college graduates, graduate students and early career professionals — participate in study/research exchanges or as English teaching assistants in local schools abroad each year. 

FSU faculty interested in learning more about applying for Fulbright Program funding can contact Peggy Wright-Cleveland, Director of Faculty Development in the Office of Faculty Development and Advancement, at mwrightcleveland@admin.fsu.edu or (850) 645-8202. 

To learn more about FSU’s global footprint, visit global.fsu.edu. 

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This summer, Florida State University’s Learning Systems Institute (LSI) hosted its third cohort of fellows through the BridgeUSA Ukraine Program for Resilience and Reconstruction (UPRR), further strengthening research partnerships between U.S. and Ukrainian scholars. 

The fellows, Dmytro Diadin, an associate professor at O.M. Beketov National University of Urban Economy in Kharkiv, and Oleksandra Hrytstna, associate professor and vice dean at the National University of Water and Environmental Engineering in Rivne, spent four weeks at FSU collaborating with faculty across campus. They conducted research, observed classes, developed course materials and explored the policies and culture that shape American higher education.   

This marks the third cohort of BridgeUSA UPRR fellows hosted by FSU’s Ukraine Task Force (UTF), housed within LSI. Vilma Fuentes, director of the UTF, coordinated the visit.  

“While staying here, we were really in good hands,” Diadin said. “We are very grateful to FSU’s UTF for hosting us because this ensures that we will go to Ukraine with really tangible outcomes, tangible results.” 

Hrytstna’s research focuses on water and wastewater management to support sustainable urban environments. His work also explores the potential of wastewater energy recovery as a tool for decarbonization. Diadin specializes in hydrology, water monitoring and environmental impact assessment, with extensive expertise studying groundwater and surface water systems in Eastern Ukraine.  

During their visit, the fellows worked alongside scientists at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (MagLab) to analyze groundwater samples from Ukraine and examine how the ongoing Russian invasion has affected the country’s water resources.  

“The most exciting and the most useful part for me was taking samples (of Ukrainian groundwater) and using the magnificent capabilities of the MagLab to analyze this water,” Diadin said. “This is actually the first time ever that Ukrainian water was analyzed on such magnetic instruments. So, this is the only place in the world where we can do it with such precision.” 

The collaboration also created opportunities for long-term research partnerships. Florida’s unique geology, particularly North Florida’s more than 300 documented freshwater springs, provides valuable opportunities for comparative water research.  

“I see a beautiful harmony here,” Hrytstna said. “It is a unique ecosystem in Florida, in Tallahassee. How FSU built a world-class academic campus right inside this natural paradise shows me that progress and nature can live together.” 

Both fellows said the visit strengthened relationships with FSU researchers and opened the door to future joint projects. 

“I see that we will have further cooperation on water quality and just in general water studies because in Florida you have really unique conditions of groundwater formation, groundwater pollution and groundwater use,” Diadin said. “In Ukraine we have different conditions but the impacts, the anthropogenic inputs to water and the necessity of water preservation, to ensure water quality, water safety. This is in our common tasks. So, I really see that we will cooperate on these water issues with the FSU.” 

The BridgeUSA Ukraine Program for Resilience and Reconstruction is funded by the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, with additional funding from U.S. host institutions, and administered by American Councils for International Education. The program equips professionals with the skills and expertise needed to support Ukraine’s recovery and resilience. 

“BridgeUSA provides an opportunity to meet face-to-face,” Hrytstna said. “It is important because you see your partner, your scientist colleagues and you have eye contact. In a face-to-face meeting, we can better understand each other. For me, it is a two-way bridge. It is not only the U.S. to Ukraine. It is also Ukraine to the U.S.” 

ABOUT LSI

LSI strives to lead the way in creating innovative educational solutions that seamlessly connect theory with practice. Through advanced research, we develop industry-leading methods and implementation strategies to enhance systematic learning at all levels and in all environments. For more than five decades, LSI has been committed to driving measurable improvements in the performance of both individuals and organizations. 

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Viral social media content from international visitors attending the FIFA World Cup is showing how everyday interactions across the United States can become a form of citizen diplomacy that may help reshape global perceptions of the country.

Whether it’s fans from Japan marveling at Texas barbecue, Scotland’s Tartan Army spreading goodwill in Boston or German content creators becoming enamored with Buc-ee’s, international visitors have consistently shared positive reactions to American hospitality, food and local culture.

The social media content offers a contrast to some perceptions of the United States. According to the Pew Research Center, some of Europe’s hottest soccer hubs stated that they believed the U.S. was plagued by “very strong partisan conflicts.”

Florida State University Professor of Sociology Deana Rohlinger studies mass media, social movements, digital participation and democratic processes. She said the FIFA World Cup offers one of the largest examples of citizen diplomacy, when ordinary people act as informal ambassadors and generate goodwill that governments cannot easily create.

“Social scientists have known for decades that when people from different groups interact under positive conditions, stereotypes often break down. The World Cup is one of the largest examples imaginable,” Rohlinger said.

While diplomacy is often viewed as a top-down process led by governments and political leaders, citizen diplomacy works from the bottom up. International visitors’ own perceptions change by experiencing what U.S. culture is about.

“Part of why this resonates is that it pushes back against a story we’ve been telling ourselves for years,” Rohlinger added. “So much of what we encounter emphasizes polarization, conflict and dysfunction that those images start to define how we see ourselves. Then outsiders, people with no reason to flatter us, arrive expecting one thing and encounter another. Their reactions interrupt the narrative. They provide a more generous, and probably more accurate, reflection of who we are.”

Media interested in learning more about citizen diplomacy and how the FIFA World Cup is influencing perceptions of the U.S. may contact Professor of Sociology Deana Rohlinger via email at drohling@fsu.edu.

Deana Rohlinger, professor of sociology, Florida State University College of Social Sciences and Public Policy

How does citizen diplomacy become so effective in the case of FIFA World Cup visitors experiencing the United States?

 Part of what makes these moments powerful is that visitors arrive with expectations shaped by headlines and social media. Then they encounter something more mundane and more human: strangers striking up conversations, neighbors helping with directions, someone insisting they have to experience Buc-ee’s, or introducing them to the marvel of a Big Gulp. These small interactions sound trivial, but they leave impressions. And because so many of us are watching these encounters unfold online, the goodwill extends far beyond the people who were actually there. Visitors show up expecting a divided, unwelcoming country, discover something different, and then tell the world. That’s how the script gets flipped. 

How can this type of positive social media content boost morale to U.S. citizens and their own thoughts/opinions of their country?

There’s something powerful about hearing these positive reactions from strangers. Praise from people who don’t owe us anything feels more credible than self-congratulation. The effect is probably temporary, but moments like this remind people that the angry, divided portrait we carry around is only part of the picture. Everyday interactions, ordinary kindness and even shared excitement over things as mundane as Buc-ee’s or a Big Gulp point to another side of American life that often gets lost in the headlines.

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This summer, Florida State University will welcome scholars from India’s top research institutions to Tallahassee through a new initiative designed to spark international collaboration, accelerate innovation and expand FSU’s global research partnerships. 

The inaugural Visiting Scholars Partnership Program (VSPP) is designed to strengthen high-impact, research-and innovation-centered partnerships with leading universities around the world. The pilot program, which takes place July 5-31, will bring scholars from four highly ranked international institutions to FSU’s Tallahassee campus for exploratory research collaborations.  

During their stay, each visiting scholar will be paired with FSU faculty aligned with their expertise and desire to build international partnerships. Visiting scholars will explore FSU’s world-class facilities, meet administrators across multiple departments and engage in rich, one-on-one collaboration with their faculty peers several times each week. 

Housed in the Office of the Provost, the initiative receives strategic oversight from the Office for Strategic Initiatives and Innovation and is implemented by the Learning Systems Institute (LSI), which conducts research and develops evidence-based interventions to improve individual and organizational performance. 

“Florida State University believes some of the most meaningful breakthroughs happen when scholars from different backgrounds and perspectives come together to exchange ideas,” said Jim Clark, provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs. “The Visiting Scholars Partnership Program creates opportunities for collaboration that strengthen research, expand global partnerships and enrich the academic experience for our entire university community.” 

“The Visiting Scholars Partnership Program creates opportunities for collaboration that strengthen research, expand global partnerships and enrich the academic experience for our entire university community.”

— Jim Clark, FSU provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs 

The initiative was spearheaded by Farrukh Alvi, senior associate provost for Strategic Initiatives and Innovation and the Don Fuqua Eminent Scholar and Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the FAMU–FSU College of Engineering.

“The program is designed to create opportunities for researchers to explore new ideas, identify complementary strengths and develop partnerships around shared areas of interest,” Alvi said. “We hope these collaborations will lead to impactful, lasting research relationships and new opportunities for innovation across disciplines.” 

The VSPP will provide a structured, immersive experience that supports collaborative research, innovation exchange and the development of long-term institutional partnerships. Collaborations will span fields including aerospace engineering, biomedical engineering, quantum optics, entrepreneurship and advanced materials research. 

“At Florida State University, we recognize that research and higher education are increasingly global in nature,” said Steve McDowell, assistant provost for International Initiatives. “The Visiting Scholars Partnership Program reflects FSU’s continued investment in international engagement and global research partnerships to serve the people of Florida.” 

“The Visiting Scholars Partnership Program reflects FSU’s continued investment in international engagement and global research partnerships to serve the people of Florida.”

— Steve McDowell, FSU assistant provost for International Initiatives

Vilma Fuentes, director of FSU’s Ukraine Task Force and a visiting associate in research at LSI, will serve as inaugural program director of the VSPP.  

“This program provides an exciting opportunity to connect scholars from some of the best universities in the world with faculty and departments across our great university,” Fuentes said. “We anticipate these exchanges will lead to new research partnerships, expanded academic engagement and future opportunities that benefit both FSU and our international partners.” 

India is home to some of the world’s fastest-growing research and technology institutions, making the partnerships especially valuable for future global collaboration. Participating partner institutions include the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras), Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur), Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi), and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc).  

The partner institutions rank among the world’s leading universities for engineering, science and technology research in the QS World University Rankings. The QS World University Rankings is one of the most comprehensive assessments of its kind, offering an independent comparison of top universities worldwide based on academic excellence, employability, research impact and internationalization. 

“At LSI, we believe innovation happens when people with different expertise and perspectives come together to solve complex challenges,” said Rabieh Razzouk, director of LSI. “The Visiting Scholars Partnership Program creates an environment where those collaborations can grow, benefiting not only our institutions, but also the broader communities and systems our work is intended to serve.” 

Summer 2026 VSPP pairings include:  

• Wei Guo, Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, FAMU–FSU College of Engineering, with Bhaskar Kanseri, Professor, Quantum Optics Physics, IIT Delhi
• Bill Lickson, Professor, Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship, and Pradeep Bhide, Professor, FSU College of Medicine, with Amit Mehndiratta, Professor, Biomedical Engineering, IIT Delhi  
• Farrukh Alvi, Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, FAMU–FSU College of Engineering, with Tufan Kumar Guha, Assistant Professor, Aerospace Engineering, IIT Kanpur, and Debopam Das, Professor, Aerospace Engineering, IIT Kanpur  
• Unnikrishnan Nair, Associate Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, FAMU–FSU College of Engineering, with Rajesh Ranjan, Associate Professor, Aerospace Engineering, IIT Kanpur  
• Rajan Kumar, Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, FAMU–FSU College of Engineering, with Mohammed Ibrahim Sugarno, Associate Professor, Aerospace Engineering, IIT Kanpur  
• William Oates, Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, FAMU–FSU College of Engineering, with Nidish Narayanaa Balaji, Assistant Professor, Aerospace Engineering, IIT Madras  
• Tristan Driscoll, Assistant Professor, Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, FAMU–FSU College of Engineering, with Namrata Gundiah, Professor, Mechanical Engineering, IISc  
• Zhiyong (Richard) Liang, Professor, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, FAMU–FSU College of Engineering; Tarik Dickens, Professor and Interim Associate Chair, Materials Science and Engineering Department, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering; and Raghav Gnanasambandam, Assistant Professor, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, with Prosenjit Das, Assistant Professor, Materials Engineering, IISc

Cultural activities will also be arranged to give participants a deeper understanding of American culture, society and the surrounding environment. In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States, activities will include locations listed on the America250FL Road Trip Map. 

In addition to advancing scientific understanding and knowledge exchange, these partnerships are expected to lead to joint research proposals, co-authored publications, shared data, complementary use of resources and new interdisciplinary initiatives. Organizers hope the program will serve as a foundation for sustained international collaboration and future faculty and student exchange opportunities at scale. 

Visit the Visiting Scholars Partnership Program website to learn more about VSPP. For more information about LSI, visit lsi.fsu.edu. To learn more about FSU’s global footprint, visit global.fsu.edu.

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Florida State University’s education and educational research program ranks No. 25 globally, No. 2 among public universities in the United States and No. 1 in Florida in the 2026-27 Best Global Universities rankings released by U.S. News & World Report.

Florida State also ranked among the world’s top 100 institutions in psychiatry and psychology (No. 80), social sciences and public health (No. 89) and arts and humanities (No. 92).

The rankings evaluate more than 2,250 universities in more than 100 countries based on academic research performance and global and regional research reputation. The methodology emphasizes factors such as publications, citations and international collaboration.

“These rankings across crucial professions and disciplines reflect the quality of our faculty and the impact of their scholarship,” said Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Jim Clark. “The recognition earned by our education program, along with strong performances in psychology, the social sciences and the humanities, demonstrates the public value proposition of the academic excellence across Florida State University.”

FSU’s performance reflects the university’s continued growth as a leading research institution. The university recorded a record $488 million in research expenditures, a 50 percent increase since 2021, and surpassed $1.2 billion in research funding proposals in 2025.

U.S. News uses data from Clarivate’s Web of Science Core Collection and InCites Benchmarking & Analytics to evaluate universities. The Best Global Universities rankings focus primarily on institutions’ research performance and scholarly impact rather than undergraduate education.

For more information and the complete rankings, visit the U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities website.

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