Eighteen Florida State University students will be studying abroad this summer and school year through the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program.
The Gilman Scholarship provides undergraduate students with high financial need the opportunity to study or intern in a foreign country. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the scholarship gives students the chance to become global citizens and active participants in their international community while gaining critical thinking and cultural awareness.
Chelsea James, a junior majoring in social science education with a minor in child development, will participate in the Broad Curriculum Program at the FSU London Study Centre through FSU International Programs. The Broad Curriculum Program includes FSU courses that satisfy requirements for graduation, CoreFSU and some majors or minors while living abroad.
After graduation next year, she plans to pursue a career in school leadership and hopes to expand student opportunities and transform the education landscape.
“I am excited to go to London because it will allow me to experience a diverse global culture firsthand while gaining new perspectives that will shape my growth as a future educator and leader,” James said.
Lana Abboud, a sophomore majoring in international affairs with a minor in economics, will participate in the Intensive French program in Paris through FSU International Programs. Students are placed in a language course based on their level of understanding and are taught entirely in French by native French-speaking faculty.
“This experience will strengthen my ability to engage across cultures and operate in international settings, while building the communication skills essential for diplomacy and global policy work,” Abboud said.
After graduation next fall, Abboud hopes to attend law school or pursue a career as a U.S. diplomat. She is interested in the intersection of international law and foreign policy and how they drive global corporations.
Niki Navarro Gutierrez, a junior majoring in digital media production and minoring in Italian and film, will attend the University of Foreigners of Perugia in Umbria, Italy, through FSU Global Exchanges.
“I am extremely interested in the appreciation that Italy, and Europe as a whole, has for film and the resources that are put into it,” Gutierrez said.
Gutierrez has a passion for creating documentaries or fiction films that tell a story about the culture they portray. She says she will benefit from traveling abroad and learning from diverse communities.
“Ultimately, I hope to return from Perugia not only with greater fluency in Italian, but also with the personal insight and professional skills to pursue documentary filmmaking on an international scale,” Gutierrez said.
Giselle Martinez, a junior majoring in biological science, will participate in FSU’s Biology in London program with FSU International Programs. Martinez will take two courses: Walking in Van Leeuwenhoek’s Shoes: Rediscovering Cell Biology, where students recreate classical experiments that shaped understanding of the cell, and Investigating Questions in Animal Behavior, which examines how development, genetics, and physiology shape behaviors like communication, aggression and sociality.
After graduation next year, Martinez plans to continue studying medicine as a women’s health researcher focusing on endometriosis and other women’s health concerns.
“I want to contribute to the under-researched and underrepresented areas of medicine in which many women find themselves struggling,” Martinez said.
Zorianna Starks, a junior majoring in psychology and minoring in social work, will study abroad in London and Amsterdam this summer through the Council on International Educational Exchange’s (CIEE) Comparative Public Health Systems program.
She plans to explore how cultural, social and economic factors influence the delivery of care and access to mental and public health.
“This experience will allow me to expand my perspective on mental health and public health systems while learning how different cultures address challenges in care and accessibility,” Starks said.
Starks also received funding through the Global Scholars Program, run by the Center for Undergraduate Research and Academic Engagement, and the Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement to support her study abroad experience.
“As someone pursuing a career in psychology and social work, it is important for me to understand diverse populations so I can better support and advocate for individuals from all backgrounds,” Starks said.
She plans to pursue a career as a child therapist, focusing on supporting underserved communities and addressing mental health disparities. Starks hopes this experience will strengthen her cultural awareness and provide insight that will help her make a meaningful impact in both clinical and community-based settings.
Silvia Rodriguez, a freshman majoring in economics, will participate in the Oxford University Consortium on Human Rights and New Technology in England with the FSU Honors Program.
During the consortium, she will present her findings about the impacts of artificial intelligence on the Florida criminal justice system. Her research focuses on predictive policing, sentencing algorithms and AI-driven immigration enforcement, and analyzing whether these technologies reinforce social biases in an international setting.
“Through the consortium, I will conduct interdisciplinary research on the ethical and legal implications of AI in the justice system and explore how policy can better protect civil rights in the digital age,” Rodriguez said.
After graduating from FSU, Rodriguez plans to attend law school.
Nashley Gabriel Cardenas, a junior majoring in accounting and minoring in criminology, will study abroad this summer in Strasbourg, France, through FSU Global Exchanges with a focus on business.
“This summer, I am looking forward to expanding my horizons and networking with students of different backgrounds,” Cardenas said. “Going abroad will give me the opportunity to understand how Europe approaches sustainability within business organizations with methods that I could apply to my business career.”
She is most excited to create new connections and to make her own path while being exposed to different cultures, branching out of her comfort zone in a new place.
“I never thought I would leave the U.S. during my time studying, and this means I have the power to create my own experiences and learn how to overcome impostor syndrome,” Cardenas said.
Madison Mager, a senior biological science major pursuing veterinary medicine, will intern this summer in Costa Rica through Loop Abroad, an educational veterinary service organization. She will work at the Toucan Rescue Ranch in San José, the country’s capital, to learn how another culture engages in animal care.
“I’m especially excited to learn from a completely different veterinary environment and gain new perspectives on wildlife care and conservation medicine,” Mager said. “I’m also looking forward to meeting new people, hearing their stories and experiencing another culture firsthand.”
After graduation, Mager plans to attend veterinary school and pursue exotic veterinary and conservation medicine.
Sophia Castro, a sophomore majoring in public health, will participate in the Broad Curriculum Program at the Valencia Study Center in Spain through FSU International Programs.
“Studying abroad in Valencia will challenge me to step outside of my comfort zone and engage with new cultures, perspectives, and ways of thinking,” Castro said. “This experience will help me develop the cultural awareness and adaptability needed to better serve diverse communities and become a more well-rounded and compassionate provider.”
After graduation, Castro hopes to earn a master’s degree in nursing with a long-term career plan of owning a medical spa.
Lizzie Alba, a freshman pursuing a dual degree in psychology and human development and family sciences, will intern abroad in Madrid, this summer with the American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS). She will work with the nonprofit organization YMCA to support parents and children in the community. She also received funding through FSU’s Global Scholars Program.
“As someone who aspires to become a marriage and family therapist, these interactions with both parents and children will provide me with valuable hands-on experience and a deeper understanding of the field,” Alba said. “Through this experience, I hope to become even more culturally sensitive.”
Alba is excited about the opportunity to work with families in a new environment and learn about the cultural implications that come with a new domain.
Brianna Zapata, a junior majoring in environment and society and interdisciplinary social sciences, will participate in a language-intensive program in São Paulo, Brazil, this summer through the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE).
“During the program, I will be studying topics related to urban sustainability, culture and global perspectives while gaining immersive international experience through coursework and community engagement,” Zapata said.
Zapata also earned a Critical Need Language Award, a supplemental scholarship offered through the Gilman Program. After graduation, she plans to focus on sustainability and conservation and how they impact underserved communities.
To learn more about the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship, students can email FSU’s Office of National Fellowships for an advising appointment. For more information about International Programs, visit international.fsu.edu. To learn more about Global Exchanges, visit cge.fsu.edu/global-programs.
This year’s Gilman Scholarship recipients, their destinations and majors are:
Yecenia Padron; Panama; Human Development and Family Sciences
Lana Abboud; France; International Affairs
Mya Ncastanedo; Spain; Media and Communication Studies
Nicole Navarro Gutiérrez; Italy; Digital Media Production
Chelsea James; United Kingdom; Social Science Education
Brianna Zapata; Brazil; Environment and Society and Interdisciplinary Social Sciences
Zorianna Starks; United Kingdom and the Netherlands; Psychology
Lizzie Alba; Spain; Psychology and Human Development and Family Sciences
Giselle Martinez; United Kingdom; Biological Science
Yemaya Adams; South Korea; Information Technology
Silvia Rodriguez; United Kingdom; Economics
Nashely Gabriel Cardenas; France; Accounting
Sacha Chiche Gallardo; France; Behavioral Neuroscience
Madison Northcutt; United Kingdom; Communication Science & Disorders
Sophia Castro; Spain; Public Health
Madison Mager; Costa Rica; Biological Science
Gianna Spadafino; Thailand; Communication and Public Relations
Adwoa Birago Nsiah Ababio; Spain; Food Science and Nutrition