The Panama City Small Business Executive Program, operated by Florida State University’s Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship, celebrated its first-ever graduating cohort on April 30. The achievement marks a significant milestone for small business leadership development in the Northwest Florida region.

The executive-level program equips small business owners with the tools, strategies and mindset needed to lead with confidence, strengthen business operations and turn challenges into opportunities for long-term growth. Participants of the program engaged in advanced leadership and business development training focused on helping entrepreneurs think differently, adapt strategically and build stronger, more resilient businesses.

“We are incredibly proud of the dedication and hard work demonstrated by this inaugural class,” said Marina Lickson, director of the Northwest Florida program. “Their commitment to growth and leadership reflects the strength and potential of the small business community in Panama City and beyond.”

The program’s partnership with the Florida State University Panama City campus created a collaborative environment where local business leaders could learn, connect and grow together. The achievements of the initial graduating class highlight the potential influence these business owners will have on the Panama City community and the surrounding area.

Applications for the Tallahassee Small Business Executive Program fall cohort are open until August 14, 2026. More information can be found on the program’s website.

About the Small Business Executive Program (SBEP)

The Small Business Executive Program is an executive-level leadership and business development initiative created to support small business owners through strategic learning, leadership training and peer collaboration, designed to foster sustainable business growth.

About the Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship

The Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship, housed in the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship at Florida State University, cultivates, trains and inspires entrepreneurial leaders through world-class executive education, applied training, public recognition and leading-edge research. The Jim Moran Institute comprises a dedicated team of entrepreneurship professionals, academic scholars and staff who foster the entrepreneurial spirit by helping to organize, expand and promote the knowledge and practice of entrepreneurship to facilitate new business and further the goals of established businesses.

For more information, visit jmi.fsu.edu.

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Florida State University has chosen Gregory Bell as the next dean of The Graduate School. He will begin his appointment July 6.

Bell currently serves as dean of the Graduate School and mathematics professor at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG). Before his time as dean, he worked as associate dean and interim dean of the UNCG Graduate School as well as director of graduate studies in UNCG’s Department of Mathematics and Statistics.

Having served as president of the North Carolina Council of Graduate Schools and an executive board member of the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools, Bell has contributed to graduate education policy throughout the Southeast.

“Dr. Bell brings deep commitment and experience to graduate education with a record of working across campus to enhance student support, elevate academic excellence and expand graduate enrollment,” said Joe O’Shea, vice president for Student Academic Success. “I’m excited to welcome him to FSU and grateful to Assistant Provost Steve McDowell for his leadership as interim dean during this important transition.”

Originally from Panama City, Florida, He held a postdoc position funded by the National Science Foundation at The Pennsylvania State University.

“Graduate students and post-docs are critical to the success and impact of a modern university,” Bell said. “I’m excited to join FSU to work with its faculty and students to advance research excellence and foster a supportive environment where graduate students thrive.”

At FSU, Bell will help The Graduate School partner with academic units and faculty in supporting graduate education, providing financial support and advancing the professional development of graduate students. The Graduate School operates as part of FSU’s newly established Student Academic Success division.

FSU has 16 graduate programs and specialties ranked in the Top 25 among public universities, with six graduate programs placing No. 1 in Florida, according to the 2026 U.S. News & World Report’s edition of Best Graduate Schools. FSU has placed special emphasis on enhancing doctoral education, pledging to invest $10 million toward that goal over five years.

More than 10,500 graduate students are enrolled at FSU, pursuing doctoral degrees, master’s degrees and professional certificates.

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The model combines real-time and historical data to predict outbreaks and protect public health

Every summer, beach closures disrupt families, harm local businesses and raise public health alarms. Most of the time, the warning comes after it is already too late.

A new artificial intelligence framework developed at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering aims to change that by alerting water managers to E. coli contamination risk before anyone falls sick.

Researchers led by Assistant Professor Nasrin Alamdari developed an AI-powered predictive modeling framework that uses environmental and hydrometeorological data to provide early warnings of Escherichia coli (E. coli) contamination in recreational waterways, giving communities a window to act before health risks emerge.

Their model, which was published in Water Research, identified unsafe conditions with approximately 85% accuracy, demonstrating its potential to offer earlier warnings before levels reach unsafe thresholds.

“Beach closures often occur because we detect contamination after water conditions have already become unsafe,” said Alamdari, a researcher in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Resilient Infrastructure and Disaster Response (RIDER) Center. “Our goal is to move from a reactive approach to a predictive one, leveraging continuous environmental data, including rainfall, river flow, turbidity, temperature and upstream conditions, to estimate E. coli levels in near real time and up to a day in advance.”

How it works

Traditional water quality monitoring relies on manual sampling followed by laboratory analysis, a process that takes 18 to 24 hours to yield results. By the time a beach or river is closed, swimmers may have already been exposed to dangerous levels of contamination.

The framework developed by researchers uses current and historical environmental data to estimate contamination risk without waiting for lab results. Inputs include upstream hydrologic conditions, streamflow rates, rainfall totals, turbidity readings and water temperature. By combining these variables, the model can flag elevated E. coli risk with 24 hours advance warning.

A 2023 sewage spill that occurred after a malfunction at the Big Creek Water Reclamation Facility illustrates exactly the kind of scenario the model is built to address.

“The 2023 Big Creek sewage spill is an example of how a sudden treatment failure can rapidly contaminate downstream recreational waters,” said Ali Salou Moumouni, a graduate researcher on the project. “Our predictive models use current and past environmental and hydrometeorological data to estimate contamination risk before lab results arrive. By factoring in upstream hydrologic conditions, our model provides earlier warnings and more targeted monitoring, improving preparedness during sudden contamination events.”

Why it matters: Human health impacts and economic costs

E. coli contamination in recreational waterways can infect people swimming there, causing gastrointestinal distress, nausea or fatigue. Vulnerable populations, such as the very young or old, are at greater risk.

The consequences of delayed contamination alerts extend beyond public health. When closures happen unexpectedly, hotels, outfitters and water recreation businesses lose revenue with little warning. Municipalities absorb higher costs from emergency public notifications and increased health incident response.

“Delays expose the public to greater health risks and increase medical expenses from waterborne illness,” Alamdari said. “Local economies that depend on recreation and tourism suffer revenue losses when visitors cancel trips or avoid affected areas, while municipalities incur higher operational costs for water testing and emergency response. Repeated advisories can also erode public trust, leading to longer-term declines in visitation and further economic loss.”

Proactive alerts, by contrast, give businesses and government agencies advance notice, reduce unnecessary closures and help communities protect both public health and economic stability. By shifting from reactive to predictive monitoring, communities can better protect public health while reducing unnecessary closures and improving economic resilience.

Risk factors

The study also documents how land use changes intensify contamination. Between 2007 and 2023, urbanization in the study area increased impervious cover from 24% to 28%, altering runoff pathways, leading to more polluted runoff and higher and more variable E. coli levels in streams.

As precipitation patterns grow less predictable, even moderate rainfall events carry elevated contamination risk in urbanized watersheds. The model accounts for rainfall history, streamflow and watershed wetness indicators to improve prediction during those in-between conditions that traditional models often miss.

“Our findings show that every development decision influences water quality and public health, highlighting the need for green infrastructure,” said Imtiaz Syed Usama, a graduate researcher on the team.

Storms compound the problem. E. coli levels can spike within hours of heavy rainfall, but traditional lab testing is too slow to catch those surges before people enter the water.

“Our model flips the script: by combining rainfall, streamflow, turbidity and other hydrometeorological data, it helps predict E. coli risk in near real time and up to a day ahead, including during extreme weather,” said Nasr Azadani Mitra, a graduate researcher at RIDER. “Communities without routine lab testing can still issue early warnings and protect public health.”

This research was supported by grants from Florida State University.

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FAMU-FSU College of Engineering researchers contribute to landmark study demonstrating ultra-low noise levels in innovative qubit platform

Florida State University and FAMU-FSU College of Engineering faculty members Wei Guo and Xianjing Zhou are part of a multi-institution research team whose latest findings advance one of the most promising platforms in quantum computing.

A new qubit, the fundamental building block of quantum information processing, invented at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory exhibits noise levels thousands of times lower than those of most traditional qubits. The study was published in Nature Electronics.

Noise refers to disturbances in the environment that diminish a qubit’s performance. The platform is built by trapping single electrons on the surface of frozen neon gas, and the recent findings position it as a strong contender in the field of high-performance quantum technologies.

The new study was jointly led by Argonne and the University of Notre Dame. Faculty at Florida State University, the University of Chicago, Harvard University and Northeastern University collaborated on the research.

“One of the biggest obstacles in quantum computing is finding a material environment that is quiet enough for qubits to survive, yet practical enough for building larger systems,” said Guo, a professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering and researcher at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory. “This study shows that solid neon offers a very compelling combination of cleanliness, stability and resilience. That is exactly the kind of foundation we need if we want quantum hardware to become more robust and scalable.”

Quantum computing: Potentially transformative, but challenged by noise

Today’s computers and smartphones run on bits, which are tiny switches that can be either 0 or 1. Quantum computers use a special kind of bit known as qubits that can be 0 and 1 at the same time. What’s more, the state of one qubit can instantly affect another qubit’s state, even if they are on opposite sides of the planet.

The remarkable properties of qubits can endow quantum computers with exponentially greater computational power than that of classical computers. This opens the door to solving challenging problems like inventing disease-curing drugs, advancing materials design, enabling secure communication and optimizing complex supply chains.

Yet quantum computers are still an emerging technology. Qubits are extremely sensitive to noise — tiny disturbances in the environment such as electromagnetic fields, heat and particle vibrations. As a result, qubits tend to have short coherence times, meaning they can only retain information for a fraction of a second.

Most of today’s chip-based qubits are made of semiconducting or superconducting materials. But these qubits are often challenged by noise from material defects, embedded charges and fabrication variability. The electron-on-neon qubit has the potential to address these limitations.

Solid neon is less noisy

In 2022, Argonne scientists at the Center for Nanoscale Materials (CNM), a DOE Office of Science user facility, invented a fundamentally new type of qubit made by freezing neon gas into a solid and spraying electrons from a light bulb filament onto the solid. A special electrode traps a single electron just above the neon’s surface. The electron serves as the qubit, with the electron’s motion in space representing the qubit’s 0 and 1 states.

In this platform, electrons reside in a vacuum just above the neon surface rather than deep inside a conventional solid, which means they are naturally less exposed to the defects and fluctuating environments that often limit qubit performance in other solid-state platforms. Earlier studies had already shown that electrons on solid neon could function as qubits and achieve remarkably strong coherence under highly protected conditions. This new work takes an important next step by showing that the platform remains quiet and functional under less ideal conditions more relevant to future quantum hardware.

Testing for resilience

The study evaluated the platform’s quietness with a systematic noise characterization. Rather than testing the device only under its most protected operating condition, the team examined how the qubit behaved away from the charge-insensitive “sweet spot” and at elevated temperatures, where environmental disturbances become more consequential, allowing researchers to probe the practical resilience of the platform under realistic operating conditions.

The study team found that the noise in the neon qubit platform is 10 to 10,000 times lower than that in most semiconducting qubits and rivals the lowest semiconductor noise records. The researchers also found that the qubits can maintain coherence times above 1 microsecond at temperatures up to 400 millikelvins, a noteworthy result because quantum devices generally become more vulnerable to decoherence as temperature rises.

“Our work shows that solid neon is not only an exceptionally clean host for trapped-electron qubits, but also a surprisingly robust one,” said Xianjing Zhou, assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering and a corresponding author of the paper. “That is exciting because reducing noise and relaxing temperature constraints are both essential for pushing quantum devices beyond carefully protected laboratory demonstrations toward more realistic technologies.”

That temperature robustness could prove especially valuable for scaling. Quantum processors typically operate at extremely low temperatures, where cooling power is limited and system engineering becomes increasingly difficult. A qubit platform that remains coherent at higher temperatures could ease one of the major bottlenecks in building larger and more practical quantum systems.

“By carefully characterizing the noise seen by the qubit, we can begin to understand why this platform performs so well and where further improvements can be made,” said Xu Han, scientist at Argonne National Laboratory and co-corresponding author of the study. “That insight is important as we work toward more advanced trapped-electron quantum devices.”

A growing quantum hub in Tallahassee

Guo’s and Zhou’s contributions to this research reflect a broader and growing investment in quantum science taking shape at FSU.

Florida State University’s Quantum Initiative aims to advance quantum science and engineering and accelerate the development of technologies that could reshape computing, communication, sensing and understanding of the physical world. The FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, in partnership with Florida A&M University, is establishing the Center for Quantum Science and Engineering.

Together, these institutional investments are helping build a strong regional ecosystem for quantum research and education, creating opportunities for students to engage in cutting-edge research, deepen their technical expertise and prepare for careers in the rapidly growing quantum workforce.

The study’s authors included Xu Han and Yizhong Huang at Argonne, and Xinhao Li, who was at Argonne when this research was conducted; Yutian Wen and Dafei Jin at the University of Notre Dame; Christopher S. Wang and Brennan Dizdar at the University of Chicago; Wei Guo and Xianjing Zhou at FSU and the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering; and Xufeng Zhang at Northeastern University.

The research was supported by DOE’s Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Argonne’s Laboratory Directed Research and Development program, Julian Schwinger Foundation for Physics Research, Air Force Office of Scientific Research, National Science Foundation, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Program, and the France and Chicago Collaborating in the Sciences program. Guo’s research was additionally supported by an NSF grant through Florida A&M University and the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory and by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation Grant through Florida State University.

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Florida State University students from the College of Communication and Information helped restore hearing for hundreds of patients during a service-learning trip to Guatemala last semester. 

Selena Snowden, teaching faculty III and director of Audiology Services in the School of Communication Science and Disorders, led a group to Sololá, Guatemala, where students performed more than 100 ear cleanings, fitted 276 hearing devices and saw more than 200 patients for appointments during four days of clinics. 

Known as the “Help Guatemala Hear” service trip, Snowden has led groups of students and professionals on similar service trips since 2015, pausing only during the pandemic. The program aims to provide the “gift of sound” to children, adults and indigenous people in the region.  

“I love to witness how the students grow each year clinically, personally, and in humility over the course of experience,” Snowden said.  

A record number of students participated in the trip: 14 undergraduate students and three graduate students from FSU, along with one undergraduate student studying communication sciences and disorders at Valdosta State University.  

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As the global film industry descends on the 79th Cannes Film Festival beginning May 12, it does so at a pivotal moment: Cinema is redefining who, or what, gets to be considered a creator.  

The rise of generative AI has ignited one of the most consequential debates the industry has faced since the transition from film to digital: Is storytelling still a fundamentally human act?  

The festival recently ruled that any film where generative AI serves as the “principal authoring tool” is ineligible for the Palme d’Or, the highest prize awarded to the director of the best feature film at Cannes. This includes AI-driven scripts, visual generation and principal performance synthesis.   

Jason Maurer, Head of Animation at the Florida State University College of Motion Picture Arts, is exploring how AI can be used ethically in creative spaces, with a strong focus on storytelling, filmmaking and animation production pipelines.   

One of his guiding principles for navigating AI and filmmaking is Wharton Associate Professor Ethan Mollick’s four basic rules: Be the human in the loop, invite AI to the table, treat AI like a person and assume this is the worst AI you’ll ever use. Maurer believes that Cannes’ push toward human-centric filmmaking is less a rejection of technology than a defense of authorship.  

“AI is a collaborator, not a creator,” Maurer said. “The ethics around how it’s built are non-negotiable, and the real threat isn’t the tool — it’s the humans wielding it without accountability.”   

Jason Maurer is available to speak with media on these angles that intersect AI and the film industry. He can be reached via email at jmaurer@fsu.edu.   

• Authorship and accountability still belong to humans: AI can speed up production, but it can’t take responsibility for a story. The real debate isn’t about banning AI — it’s about keeping humans accountable for what ends up on screen. 

• Audience trust will hinge on transparency, not technology: Viewers are open to AI-assisted films if the story resonates, but they want honesty about how it was made. The industry’s challenge isn’t AI itself — it’s clearly labeling and owning the creative process. 

• AI is expanding access while raising real ethical risks: The technology is lowering costs and giving indie filmmakers new creative power, but many tools are built on legally and ethically uncertain foundations. The opportunity is huge, but how the industry addresses those risks will define its future. 

Jason Maurer, Head of Animation, FSU College of Motion Picture Arts 

To the average film viewer, much of the AI-generated content might be indistinguishable to actual human content. Are these human-centric stances like what Cannes is doing good for the industry, or are we at a point where we’ve lost the audience’s trust for what is real on the screen? 

Whether it’s good for the industry depends on what we mean by “human centric.” If the standard is that a human directed the work, made the choices and bears the artistic responsibility, then a filmmaker using an ethically sourced AI tool is still making a human-centric film. The human is still in the loop — to borrow Ethan Mollick’s framing, which I apply to my own creative process. We didn’t stop telling stories around the campfire when the printing press arrived. Portrait painting didn’t disappear because of the photograph. Tools change. Authorship doesn’t.  

The animation industry has already lived through this. When CG arrived, the field declared 2D dead — and it nearly was, commercially, in the U.S. for most of the 2000s. Hundreds of traditional animators lost careers in that transition. We should be honest about that. But 2D didn’t die. It evolved, and the medium today is richer for having both languages available. 

Proponents of human-centric cinema endorse its authentic storytelling as one of the standards of film. While generative AI can perhaps maximize efficiencies in film, what makes the human element more important? 

The reframe I’d offer is this: The question isn’t really whether AI can be human-centric. It’s whether humans using AI are operating in good faith.  

Iris Knobloch, the Cannes president, said when announcing the 2026 selection that “AI knows how to imitate very well, but it will never know how to feel.” I’d sharpen that. AI doesn’t need to feel. The humans making the work need to. The humans watching it need to. That’s where the human element actually lives — not in the tool, but in the people on either side of it.  

The deeper case for human-centric storytelling is responsibility. Films are made by people. People can be questioned, credited, sued, hired or fired. Models can’t. As long as humans are answerable for what shows up on screen, we have an industry that can correct itself when something goes wrong. And here’s why that matters for the aesthetic question, not just the legal one: a story someone is staking themselves on is a story that carries weight. Audiences can feel the difference between work someone is answerable for and work that’s been generated to fill a slot. That stake is what authenticity actually is. 

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For as long as he can remember, Florida State University sophomore and Presidential Scholar James “LJ” Dunphy has had a fascination with weather and a knack for data-driven science. Now, those interests have led him to be named a recipient of one of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) most competitive awards.

Dunphy, a meteorology and applied mathematics major in the College of Arts and Sciences from Tampa, Florida, has been selected as a recipient of the NOAA Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship. His research strives to make machine learning-based weather forecasts more accurate and less computationally demanding.

“What we’re looking at is trying to reduce those input parameters so we can save time and compute, while actually increasing forecast accuracy,” Dunphy said. “If we can just get a little bit more accurate forecast, we can have more accurate evacuation orders and better prepare the public for scenarios like hurricanes and tornadoes.”

The Hollings Scholarship Program provides awards up to $9,500 a year in financial assistance for two years of full-time study and a 10-week, full-time paid internship at a NOAA facility during the award’s second-year summer.

“LJ has been developing next-generation algorithms for AI-based weather models. I have never encountered a sophomore with such a high level of self-motivation and research talent,” said Zhaohua Wu, professor of meteorology and Dunphy’s research mentor. “Some of his results even surpass those reported in recent papers. I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to work with him.”

Dunphy’s interest in meteorology was shaped by experiences with severe weather in Florida and beyond.

“Weather, being from Tampa, has always impacted me,” he said. “Hurricanes are kind of the first thing that come to mind and they impact us up here in Tallahassee, too. This is something I’ve always been surrounded by, and something I’ve always been interested in.”

His double major allows him to combine physical science with advanced computation, as machine learning becomes increasingly important in weather forecasting.

“[NOAA’s]  mission of protecting life and property has been a very important part of protecting my community. To be able to have the opportunity to give back is just something I’m really, really grateful for.”

– LJ Dunphy, FSU student and Hollings Scholarship recipient

“What I specifically want to go into in meteorology is the modeling part and forecasting,” Dunphy said. “My applied math major really, really helps with that, with understanding all the algorithms that go into it. So, it gives you the physical understanding from meteorology and the technical computational side from applied math.”

Dunphy applied for the Hollings Scholarship after encouragement from D. Craig Filar, associate dean of Honors, Scholars, and Fellows and director of FSU’s Presidential Scholars Program.

“When we invited LJ to be a part of the Presidential Scholars program, we knew he would do incredibly high caliber work in meteorology,” Filar said. “His recognition as a Hollings Scholar demonstrates his capacity for impactful and innovative work in the field of meteorology, and it speaks to his strong character to want to connect predictive modeling with improved notifications to protect communities. LJ will utilize this opportunity to expand his learning and experience in a manner that will serve his field well; I am incredibly proud of LJ for his recognition with the Hollings Scholarship program.”

As part of the scholarship, Dunphy will complete a 10-week NOAA paid internship next summer after his junior year and provide him with the opportunity to work at nearly any NOAA office nationwide.

“NOAA has always been a big part of my life,” Dunphy said. “Their mission of protecting life and property has been a very important part of protecting my community. To be able to have the opportunity to give back is just something I’m really, really grateful for.”

Dunphy recognized the role FSU’s academic environment and research opportunities played in helping him reach this milestone.

“All the resources that FSU has given me have been really, really immensely helpful,” he said, crediting the Presidential Scholars Program, the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) and mentorship from faculty in the Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science.

Looking forward, Dunphy urges fellow students to aim high and take chances, even if those opportunities seem out of reach.

“The only reason I got to where I am now is just because I put myself out there,” he said. “You’d be really surprised where your abilities take you, especially when you’re really passionate about something. The worst they can say is no.”

For more information about scholarships and fellowships, visit FSU’s Office of National Fellowships.

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Florida State University alumna Christiani Pitts has earned a Tony Award nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical for her performance in Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York). 

Nominations for the 79th Annual Tony Awards were announced Tuesday. Winners will be announced June 7 at Radio City Music Hall during a ceremony broadcast on CBS and streamed on Paramount+. 

The nomination drew praise from faculty in Florida State University’s School of Theatre, where Pitts developed the foundation for a career that has taken her from campus productions to leading roles on Broadway.

“We are incredibly proud to celebrate alumna Christiani Pitts’ Tony nomination,” said Brad Brock, director of the School of Theatre. “As a student, she was a force in our program — leading with heart, a fierce work ethic and a collaborative spirit. None of us are surprised to see her carrying that same generosity, passion and commitment to the craft to Broadway.” 

“We are incredibly proud to celebrate alumna Christiani Pitts’ Tony nomination. As a student, she was a force in our program — leading with heart, a fierce work ethic and a collaborative spirit. None of us are surprised to see her carrying that same generosity, passion and commitment to the craft to Broadway.

— Brad Brock, director of the School of Theatre

The evening before learning of her nomination, Pitts was in New York supporting the next generation of Florida State performers at the university’s Senior Showcase.

Held at the Ailey Citigroup Theatre, the annual event gives graduating music theatre students from the College of Music and School of Theatre the opportunity to perform for agents, casting directors and other industry professionals. For Pitts, who once stood in their place, the evening underscored the connection between FSU’s training programs and the professional stage. 

Pitts, who earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music Theatre from the FSU School of Theatre in 2015, is among nominees that include Sara Chase (Schmigadoon!), Stephanie Hsu (The Rocky Horror Show), Caissie Levy (Ragtime) and Marla Mindelle (Titanique). 

Her nomination marks a significant milestone in a career spanning stage, television and film. Pitts made her Broadway debut in A Bronx Tale: The Musical, later stepping into a leading role in the production, before starring as Ann Darrow in Broadway’s King Kong. Prior to her Broadway success, she built her foundation at FSU, appearing in productions including Cabaret (Fraulein Sally Bowles), Company (Marta) and Ragtime. 

“What continues to inspire us most,” Brock said, “is not only her talent, but the environment she cultivates around her — one grounded in collaboration, integrity and a sincere dedication to uplifting the communities she engages with. Christiani exemplifies the highest ideals of an FSU Theatre graduate. We are delighted to see her receiving the recognition she has long earned and eager to watch the impact she will continue to make across the industry.” 

In addition to her stage work, Pitts has appeared in television series including Power Book III: Raising Kanan, The Good Fight and Blue Bloods. She also starred in the Netflix film Resort to Love, produced by Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Alicia Keys. 

Pitts is the daughter of Byron Pitts, anchor of ABC’s Nightline, and began her theatre career in Atlanta and New Jersey before moving to New York City after graduating from FSU. 

Her nomination adds to a distinguished legacy of FSU alumni recognized on Broadway. Notable music theatre graduates include Montego Glover (‘96), a Tony nominee for Memphis, and producer Darren Bagert (‘92), a five-time Tony Award winner whose career has spanned more than three decades. 

Pitts’ nomination highlights both her emergence as a major talent on the stage and Florida State University’s longstanding success in preparing artists for careers across Broadway, television and film.

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Aiden Leslie, a senior majoring in political science in the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy at Florida State University, was drawn to the university for its strong undergraduate research programs and the unique opportunities available to transfer students.

Inspired by the campus’s architectural beauty and walkability, Leslie quickly felt at home and appreciated the support provided throughout the transfer process from St. Petersburg College.

Leslie’s passion for research led to a fellowship with the Tyler Center for Global Studies, where he conducted an independent documentary project in São Paulo, Brazil. The film, “Lane Splitting,” explored the lives of young motorcycle couriers navigating urban challenges and labor rights struggles. Through this work, Leslie combines interests in journalism, filmmaking and advocacy, aiming to tell stories that inspire positive change.

In just two semesters, he has earned recognition on both the President’s and Dean’s lists. After graduation, Leslie plans to travel abroad and attend law school to practice human rights-focused or immigration law.

What made you want to transfer to Florida State University?

I began studying at FSU in the fall of 2024, after transferring from St. Petersburg College. I knew Florida State University was right for me because of the abundance of resources provided for transfer students like me. From the application process to registering for classes or attending orientation, I always knew that I had support. I remember being encapsulated by the red brick buildings on my first visit and the beautiful trees that were found all over campus. The overall walkability of the campus played a huge role in my choice as well. FSU has a great reputation for its undergraduate research programs, which made the decision easy.

The university’s proximity to the capitol has also allowed me to make valuable connections in my field of political science. The opportunities I have been provided to explore different academic disciplines and career fields at FSU are unparalleled and as a transfer student, I felt right at home from the moment I set foot on campus.

What did you explore in your undergraduate research project?

Funded by the Tyler Center for Global Studies as a Tyler Fellow in São Paulo, Brazil, I completed my documentary about young motorcyclists from disadvantaged backgrounds enduring a labor rights struggle. This short documentary “Lane Splitting” delves into the world of motorcycle couriers in São Paulo who navigate the city’s chaotic traffic at high speeds to deliver goods quickly, often risking their lives daily in a system that exploits their labor while offering little protection or recognition.

This opportunity has allowed me to begin my professional career in journalism and filmmaking. Whether it be through journalism, documentary filmmaking, academia or something else, I aim to tell stories that can facilitate positive change in the places where it’s needed most.

How has being a student at FSU helped you in achieving your goals and getting on the right path for your future?

My time here at FSU has been incredibly valuable in terms of learning about the possibilities of academia and research, as well as the importance of being a lifelong learner. I have made connections with my professors that have provided me with countless opportunities, such as traveling internationally to conduct research.

Speaking at the President’s Showcase for Undergraduate Research Excellence was an unforgettable experience, and I hope to inspire this generation of young researchers to spark positive change in their own lives and the lives of those around them.

What plans do you have for the future?

I intend to travel the world and share important stories, such as the one told in my documentary. I will continue to make documentary films and content while connecting with people in places most would not think to venture to.

After traveling, I plan to attend law school in the hopes of becoming a lawyer and practicing human-rights-focused law or immigration law. Using my background in law coupled with my experiences connecting with people from different backgrounds all over the world, I want to go into politics and fight for issues that I feel are important. I am committed to making positive change wherever I can.

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