Florida State University has named its largest cohort of Tyler Center for Global Studies Fellows, awarding nine students for their academic ambition and global curiosity.
The award, sponsored by the national Tyler Center for Global Studies, is one of many among the Center for Undergraduate Research and Academic Engagement’s IDEA Grants program, which funds original research projects and creative endeavors for students of all majors.
“These fellowships combine undergraduate research, global learning and mentorship,” said Latika Young, executive director of the Tyler Center. “We are proud to offer these opportunities to our fellows, who grow as researchers and global citizens while preparing for future careers.”
Hosted and coordinated by FSU, the Tyler Center was established by William H. Tyler III through a generous gift from the Tyler Foundation in 2022. The goal was to cultivate a community of global scholars who shape the future through research, innovation and collaboration.
With FSU as the coordinating institution, the Tyler Center acts as a network of schools, connecting undergraduate students across the country with goals of pursuing research to opportunities for global inquiry. This year’s fellows traveled to countries across Europe, South America, Africa and the Caribbean, exploring topics from human rights and migration to coral reef health and art history.
The Tyler Center will host its second annual Virtual Summit from 4-6 p.m. ET on Thursday, Nov. 20. During this online event, Tyler Fellows from each institution will present their research findings and experiences abroad with the wider Tyler Center community. Afterward, a moderated Q&A panel will invite questions from the audience. Those wishing to attend must register for the Virtual Summit by the end of the day Monday, Nov. 10. Register here.
Aiden Leslie, a senior majoring in political science, traveled to São Paolo, Brazil, to conduct research for his project “Lane Splitting: The Motoboys of São Paulo.” With additional funding from FSU’s Center for the Advancement of Human Rights (CAHR), he is creating a mini documentary about motorcycle delivery drivers in one of the world’s most populous cities.
“This is personal,” Leslie said. “Some of these workers are friends of mine. I wanted to highlight their stories and kickstart my career in human rights filmmaking and investigative journalism.”
Sophie Works, a junior studying Russian and international affairs, traveled to Riga, Latvia, this summer. Her project “Lacquer and Legacy: Opening the Box to Soviet Narratives and Baltic Realities” explores how ethnic Russian Latvians relate to traditional lacquer art, a type of miniature painting with deep historical, cultural and ideological roots dating back to 16th century Russia. She is part of the 2025 Global Scholars cohort and her research is also supported by an Edna Ranek International Award, given to students in the Department of International Affairs.
While abroad, Works conducted research through interviews with ethnic Russian Latvian citizens about their relationships to Russian lacquer art. Works also took a language course at the Russian Language Academy (BORN) to support her goal of pursuing a graduate degree in Russian and Slavic studies.
“My goal is to challenge institutionalized scholarly and commercial narratives by curating emotional, object-centered exhibitions and creating space for personal histories that often go unrecorded,” Works said.
Kaysyn Jones, a senior double majoring in English and African American Studies, went to London to study the literary branch of the British Black Arts Movement during the 1980s and 1990s.
Her Honors in the Major (HITM) thesis explores identity and creative expression through the lens of her project “Black Identity and the Black British Salon.” While in London, Jones had access to undigitized archival materials and was able to conduct interviews with those who were active during the movement.
“Going to London gave me access to the people and places that shaped this movement,” Jones said. “The Tyler Fellowship made this possible.”
Reagan Gibson, a senior majoring in classical archaeology, went to Italy and conducted research in Florence and Naples for her project “The Secrecy of the Bourbons: How the Mysteries of Pompeii Impacted Antiquarianism and Archaeological Practice.”
Also pursuing the HITM thesis, Gibson’s project examines how the export of Pompeii artifacts during the Bourbon reign in the 18th century shaped modern archaeology.
“This experience allowed me to contribute to the archaeological and art history communities while I strengthen my skills before graduate school,” Gibson said.
Charlotte Stuart-Tilley, a senior double majoring in international affairs and French, traveled to Accra, Ghana for her project “Marginal People, Minimal Rights: Indigenous Fulbe Approaches to Human Rights and Sociopolitical Stigma in the Accra Metropolitan District of Ghana, West Africa.” The project focuses on how the Fulbe people, a nomadic Indigenous group, define marginalization and human rights and face notions of social stigma.
In Ghana, she explored cultural values like “Pulaaku,” a Fulbe code of conduct, and “seemtende,” or shame, as part of her HITM thesis. Stuart-Tilley also received support from FSU’s Center for the Advancement of Human Rights.
“I hope to better understand the global human rights discourse and how we can best protect marginalized communities from violence,” Stuart-Tilley said.
Raven Watkins, a senior pursuing a degree in studio art, attended a forensic archaeology field school in Valencia, Spain to study the remains of victims of the Spanish Civil War, which were cataloged and repatriated back to their families.
Her animated project “A Tattoo of Spain” uses stop-motion and draws inspiration from the 1940’s song “Tatuaje” to express its cultural impact and repression at the time. Watkins also received funding from the Career Preparation in the Arts Fund through the College of Fine Arts and the Lisa Scott Undergraduate Research Award for first-generation students engaged in undergraduate research.
“I can reach my dream field of stop-motion while shining light on a historical perspective I am passionate about which deserves attention in the art canon for its significance on Spanish culture,” Watkins said.
Sofia Lara, a senior majoring in environmental science, went to Bonaire, an island in the Southern Caribbean, to conduct research on coral reef restoration and fish communities.
Her project “Restored vs. Wild Acropora Cervicornis Sites in Bonaire: A Study of Coral Health, and Fish Communities” contributes to data collection on coral reef ecology and restoration through observational and photographic techniques.
“The opportunity to collaborate with doctoral candidates and collect meaningful reef data aligned perfectly with my interests in coral reef ecology and restoration,” Lara said. “I applied what I learned in FSU’s scientific diving course to a real-world research setting.”
Lucas Gonzalez, a senior majoring in international affairs, traveled to Germany and conducted ethnographic research with Venezuelan immigrants in Berlin. He explored how they build community and maintain cultural identity while adjusting to life in a new country.
The project “Navigating Identity and Community: An Ethnographic Study of Venezuelan Immigrants in Berlin” involved interviews with community members and participation in cultural events to understand adaptation strategies.
“This was my first take at real independent work, making me go out of my comfort zone in many ways,” Gonzalez said. “As someone passionate about immigration policy and urban planning, this research gives me hands-on experience understanding how immigrant communities work, which will be invaluable for my future career ambitions.”
Feyikemi Poitier, a junior majoring in dance, went to France for the project “Tracing the Roots,” a short documentation series that explores how various dance styles — such as vogue, jazz and krump — intersect to form contemporary Black dance in Paris.
For the project, Poitier combined artistic storytelling with academic research to conduct immersive fieldwork, including dance classes, performances and interviews with instructors and choreographers. Her project investigates how those styles preserve cultural heritage while evolving in a global, multicultural context.
“This research adds to my academic merit and career preparation as I explore and build my choreographic voice through these Black contemporary dance connections,” Poitier said. “As an aspiring choreographer and professional dancer, this research will fuel future projects in the field.”
About the program
Founded by William H. Tyler III, the Tyler Center is coordinated by FSU and supports international research fellowships across the country. Its mission is to build a network of global scholars tackling today’s biggest challenges through research, collaboration and innovation.
Since launching in 2022, the Center has supported 30 FSU students whose work has been showcased at the President’s Showcase for Undergraduate Research Excellence, FSU’s premier undergraduate research event.
FSU coordinates public and private post-secondary institutions applying for a grant from the Tyler Center. The Tyler Network recently expanded to 12 institutional partners nationwide, awarding $220,000 in grants this year.
“We’re proud to welcome new partners to the Tyler Network,” said Executive Director Latika Young. “This includes public and private institutions from Hawai‘i to New York, community colleges to large research universities.”
Students interested in learning more about the Tyler Center for Global Studies Research Award can email FSU’s Center for Undergraduate Research and Academic Engagement to set up an advising appointment. To learn more about the Honors in the Major Program, visit honors.fsu.edu/honors-major.
2025 FSU Tyler Fellows
Reagan Gibson | Italy | Classical Archaeology, College of Arts and Sciences
Lucas Gonzalez | Germany | International Affairs, College of Social Sciences and Public Policy
Kaysyn Jones | England | Creative Writing and African American Studies, College of Arts and Sciences & College of Social Sciences and Public Policy
Sofia Lara | Bonaire | Environmental Science, College of Arts and Sciences
Aiden Leslie | Brazil | Political Science, College of Social Sciences and Public Policy
Feyikemi Poitier | France | Dance, College of Fine Arts
Charlotte Stuart-Tilley | Ghana | International Affairs, College of Social Sciences and Public Policy
Raven Watkins | Spain | Studio Art, College of Fine Arts
Sophie Works | Latvia | Russian and International Affairs, College of Arts and Sciences & College of Social Sciences and Public Policy