Ten Florida State University students earned the Global Citizenship Certificate (GCC) last semester, marking their dedication to cultural competency and global engagement.
These students, including three who completed the certificate with honors, were celebrated for their achievements during a ceremony on Friday, Dec. 5, in the Globe Auditorium.
Administered by the Center for Global Engagement and housed academically in the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy’s International Affairs Program, the GCC prepares students to succeed in a global workforce.
“Today, we honor ten students who have exhibited unwavering dedication to practicing global citizenship,” said Bryant Harden, instructional specialist and program director for the GCC. “Each of these graduates took the initiative to go beyond the surface and gain as much as they could from each experience. We are pleased to see all the achievements they have already made and will continue to make in our world.”
Tim Chapin, dean of the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy, spoke at the ceremony. Na’ama Nagar, director of the International Affairs program and teaching faculty III in the Department of Political Science, also offered congratulatory remarks at the celebration.
“You chose to engage with the world at a much deeper level during your time at FSU,” she said. “You were clearly curious, you were open-minded, you were reflective, and you’re clearly willing to step outside what is familiar, the familiar box that we all like to be comfortable in.”
During their participation in the program, students enroll in the IDS 2431 Global Perspectives course, which explores global issues and helps build intercultural competencies. In addition, students had to choose three elective courses from a list of pre-approved courses with an international global focus and attend eight intercultural events. Students also had to complete one sustained intercultural experience domestically or abroad to earn the certificate.
The program began in 2016 with less than 30 students and now has more than 400 enrolled. Since the start of the program, more than 300 students have earned their Global Citizenship Certificate.
Leona Sophie Rindle, a senior majoring in Psychology and Human Rights and Social Justice, pursued the certificate to gain new experiences and broaden her perspective. She satisfied her sustained experience requirement while spending the fall 2024 semester studying at Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia, through FSU’s Global Exchange Programs.
“I rediscovered my passion for traveling and learning about other cultures, as well as improving my adaptability to new environments,” Rindle said. “From scuba diving for the first time in the Great Barrier Reef to a monthlong road trip throughout New Zealand to exploring Bali, I had countless incredible experiences that I will never forget.”
The experience also reaffirmed her commitment to a future in international human rights law after witnessing the struggles of the First Nations Australians to have their cultural rights respected.
“As I continue on to law school and pursue a career in international human rights law, I will carry with me the intercultural knowledge and curiosity that the program has instilled in me,” Rindle said. “At its most basic level, (the) GCC has taught me the importance of acknowledging our shared humanity despite cultural differences.”
She and her cohort will continue to draw from their global citizenship skills to approach their future endeavors with unique insight.
“The world needs people who boldly bridge divides and show compassion, especially when it’s not convenient,” said Faith Parkinson, current student assistant for the GCC and a participant in the program. “Thank you for your commitment to building a more connected and understanding world.”
For more information about the GCC, visit cge.fsu.edu/global-citizenship-certificate.
Graduates are listed by name, major(s) and FSU graduation term and year:
Graduates with a * next to their graduation year pursued the GCC with Honors, meaning they took an additional course (five in total), maintained a GPA of 3.5 or higher in all the certificate courses and completed an honors synthesis paper.
Isabella Arruda Batanero, Japanese Language and Culture and International Affairs, Fall 2026
Catherine Bouington, Literature, Media and Culture and Human Development and Family Sciences, Fall 2025
Tanushree Dhage, Information Technology, Spring 2027
Mia Gold, Biological Science and Russian, Spring 2026
Natalie Gonzalez, Political Science, Spring 2026*
Aleksandra Grechanik, Behavioral Neuroscience, Spring 2026
Sandra O’Connell, Spanish, Spring 2026*
Leona Sophie Rindle, Psychology and Human Rights and Social Justice, Spring 2026*
Madison Rachelle Trusty, Global Club Management and Leadership, Fall 2025
Carissa Tse, Public Relations and International Affairs, Spring 2026
