Nadia Rassech, an undergraduate student studying international affairs and Middle Eastern Studies, and Yeimy Roberto, a Ph.D. candidate majoring in Hispanic linguistics, received the 2024 Global Citizen Award from FSU’s Center for Global Engagement (CGE).
The award recognizes outstanding students who have actively engaged in intercultural initiatives on campus or abroad and who have exemplified leadership in fostering a global community among FSU students.
“The CGE is proud to recognize these outstanding students and we appreciate the contributions they have made in helping create a welcoming and supportive environment for students from all cultures,” said Cindy Green, CGE director.
Yeimy RobertoFSU’s renowned faculty, robust research opportunities and keen sense of community are what inspired Roberto to attend Florida State.
“I knew that studying at FSU would not only provide me with a top-notch education but also endless opportunities for personal and intellectual growth,” said Roberto, a native of Bogota, Colombia.
In her five years in Tallahassee, Roberto has been involved in many organizations. She served as president of the Hispanic Graduate Student Association (HiGSA), treasurer for the Sigma Delta Pi Spanish Honors Society and volunteered with Good News Outreach, a local non-profit organization.
“Adapting to a new academic environment, cultural norms and social dynamics required open-mindedness and support from professors and peers,” she said. “I decided to immerse myself in cultural activities, joining student organizations and building a support network to overcome language barriers and homesickness.”
In 2023, Roberto earned the Sigma Delta Pi Summer Research Grant and the Winthrop King Summer Research Grant. In 2021, Roberto was awarded the Kerr Fellowship in Leadership, established in honor of the late Monsignor William A. Kerr (1940-2009) to assist international graduate students.
She has been recognized as an outstanding alumnus by Universidad Industrial de Santander, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in English language teaching.
“I have become more confident, social and adaptable, navigating the challenges of studying abroad with determination and compassion,” Roberto said. “I have also developed a deeper understanding of and appreciation for cultural diversity, fostering empathy and my interactions with others.”
While living in a new country comes with challenges, Roberto has a deep appreciation for all the opportunities FSU has to offer, especially for international students.
“Despite these challenges, the experience has been invaluable, broadening my horizon, expanding my worldview and enriching my personal and professional growth,” she said. “By embracing new experiences, diversity and resilience, I have developed a deeper appreciation for cultural differences and cultivated lifelong skills beneficial to my academic and professional journey.”
As she prepares for a faculty position after graduation, Roberto says her time at FSU instilled in her a sense of determination, confidence and dedication to excellence.
“The best part of my FSU experience has been the sense of community and belonging,” Roberto said. “Overall, the sense of camaraderie and mutual support within the FSU community has made my experience truly memorable and fulfilling.”
Rassech was drawn to FSU from California because of the university’s international opportunities and academic rigor.
“With so much uncertainty during the college application process, one thing I knew for sure was that I wanted to study abroad to build my global perspectives, cross-cultural communication skills and knowledge of language and international politics,” she said.
Studying abroad became a reality for Rassech when she traveled to Halle, Germany, for an internship with a refugee aid organization.
“This experience expanded my understanding of global issues and refugee protection, as well as other models for government and civil society resettlement programs,” she said.
Rassech has been involved in many organizations during her time at FSU. She’s in both the Presidential Scholars program and the Social Science Scholars program and has served in leadership positions with Amnesty International at FSU, the Arabic Honor Society and Alpha Omicron Pi. She is also an assistant at FSU’s Middle East Center and lives on campus in the Arabic Language House, an initiative that provides students with a living environment where they can practice Arabic beyond the classroom.
“The Middle Eastern Studies program is truly my home away from home,” Rassech said. “I am incredibly thankful for the professors, mentors, peers and lifelong friendships that I have made as they have been crucial to my academic, professional and personal development these past three years.”
Rassech also credits the CGE and its community as another pillar of her FSU experience. She completed the Global Citizenship Certificate program and has volunteered with the English Conversation Partner Program. This semester she was selected to attend the 2024 Florida International Leadership Conference (FILC), an annual event that brings together more than 150 domestic and international students from Florida colleges and universities to engage in a weekend of leadership learning activities.
“Through the CGE, I have learned to take a more active role in initiating and reflecting on cross-cultural exchanges, a skill that will be helpful as well as continuously fostered as I spend my next year abroad,” she said.
While pursuing her academic interests, Rassech has also served as a volunteer coordinator for the International Rescue Committee in Tallahassee, where she’s been assisting in the resettlement of an Afghan family. Through the University Honors Program, Rassech was part of FSU’s second cohort to participate in the Consortium for Human Rights at the University of Oxford last summer.
All Rassech’s hard work and dedication culminated in her winning the 2024 FSU Undergraduate Humanitarian of the Year Award.
“I would not be on the path that I am today if it were not for the communities I have found at FSU,” Rassech said. “It is due to these communities that I have constantly been supported and encouraged to enter these positions. I have gained experience but also the confidence needed to believe that I can push myself further and continue to grow in these spaces.”
After graduation, Rassech plans to take Arabic language courses over the summer while furthering her study of international refugee law in Oman, which borders Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. She will further these studies in the fall at the Arabic Language Institute in Fez, Morocco.
Rassech plans to apply to the U.S. Critical Language Scholar Program and Fulbright programs. She hopes to study international law with a concentration on refugees.
“This award shows my own progress in expanding my global perspective these past three years but also gives me courage in the footing I have, which will carry me into Morocco next semester,” Rassech said. “I hope to honor this award and the efforts of the CGE by continuing to grow as a global citizen moving forward in my academic and professional career.”
For more information about the CGE and the Global Citizen Award, visit cge.fsu.edu/intercultural-programs/global-citizen-awards.