A delegation from Florida State University’s Tallahassee campus recently visited the university’s regional branch campus in the Republic of Panama to strengthen collaborations, expand student opportunities and deepen academic partnerships.
FSU Panama offers four undergraduate degree programs, three of which are housed in the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy, making the college a central partner in the campus’s academic mission.
The FSU delegation included three representatives from the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy: Amanda Driscoll., the Dr. J. Elizabeth Garraway Professor and director of Undergraduate Studies for the Department of Political Science; Na’Ama Nagar, program director and teaching professor for the International Affairs program; and Ladanya Ramirez Surmeier, director of Undergraduate Studies and assistant teaching professor in the Public Health program and director of the Pepper Certified Peer Health Educator Scholarship.
Vilma Fuentes, a visiting associate in research at the Learning Systems Institute (LSI) and director of FSU’s Ukraine Task Force, was also part of the delegation.
“There is a clear opportunity for our Panama campus to serve as a hub for experiential learning and expanded academic engagement,” Nagar said. “With intentional partnerships and renewed focus, we can position the campus not just as an extension of the university, but as a strategic gateway for global impact.”
FSU has operated a campus in the Republic of Panama since 1957, when it was contracted by the U.S. government to establish an education center in the former Panama Canal Zone. The campus falls under the purview of FSU’s International Programs, which provides quality international learning environments and opportunities for students.
Throughout the visit, the group met with key stakeholders, students, alumni and academic partners to explore ways to promote collaboration between FSU Panama and the Tallahassee campus, particularly through internships, study abroad programs and alumni engagement. The visit also included meetings with Panama’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the U.S. Embassy and the United Nations, as well as a tour of the City of Knowledge facilities where FSU Panama is located. These organizations are all located near the FSU Panama campus, offering students access to hands‑on professional experience while completing their coursework.
As part of their engagement on campus, the delegation delivered a presentation to about 30 students, faculty and staff, highlighting programs within the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy and opportunities for collaboration between campuses.
Beyond the campus presentation, the delegation also participated in a meeting with Ambassador Kevin Cabrera, the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Panama, which focused on Embassy priorities and explored opportunities to connect FSU Panama with Embassy initiatives and internship pathways.
“We see impressive opportunities for enhanced scholarly exchange,” Driscoll said. “FSU Panama provides an ideal setting for international scholarly conferences and colloquia. As a multinational and multilingual crossroads of the Americas, the Republic of Panama presents minimal logistical or linguistic barriers for international participants and offers easier access for scholars traveling from Central and South America than most locations in the continental United States.”
The delegation also toured Panama City and the Panama Canal, providing context for the country’s strategic and economic significance. “FSU Panama has the potential to be a key partner for the Public Health Program,” Ramirez said. “After meeting with representatives from the UN-World Food Program and the UN-Food and Agriculture Organization, our students will be able to learn how to meet international public health needs while studying at FSU Panama. In addition, I look forward to identifying opportunities for students to work with the CDC Caribbean and Central American Regional Office.”
For more information about FSU Panama, visit panama.fsu.edu. To learn more about the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy, visit cosspp.fsu.edu. For more information about FSU’s global footprint, visit global.fsu.edu.