The fall semester may have already started, but some Florida State University students are still thinking about their global adventures during the dog days of summer.
From Kosovo to Ireland and Italy to Croatia to right here in Tallahassee, these FSU students conducted research while participating in internships, volunteering, teaching, travel and more.
Alanna Densmore in Dublin, Ireland
Alanna Densmore, a junior double majoring in criminology and international affairs, reached the shores of Ireland this summer as a student researcher at University College Dublin (UCD) through the Arcadia Abroad STEM Summer Research Program. She shadowed researchers working with Large Language Models to discover how artificial intelligence is affecting digital forensics investigation.
“This summer has been an incredible journey of learning and growth, both academically and personally,” she said. “Living and studying in Dublin provided a unique perspective on how different countries approach technology and law enforcement. The collaborative environment at UCD, combined with the diverse cultural experiences, has broadened my worldview.”
Studying abroad gave Densmore a global perspective before entering the workforce, along with relevant, crucial skills in her field that will carry over into her career.
Sam Montero in Perugia, Italy
Sam Montero, a junior in the College of Business majoring in finance and marketing, always knew she wanted to spend a semester in Italy during college. That became a reality when she studied abroad this past summer in the charming city of Perugia, taking classes at the prestigious Università per Stranieri di Perugia (University for Foreigners of Perugia) through FSU’s Global Exchanges Program.
“My dream has always been to move to Italy,” she said. “I started taking Italian language courses during my freshman year, and when I learned about Global Exchanges, I knew I had to take advantage of this amazing opportunity.”
FSU Global Exchanges are an affordable way for students to have a once-in-a-lifetime international experience. Students pay the price of FSU tuition and fees and can use financial aid; in turn, tuition and fees are waived at the host university, with all academic credit transferred back to FSU.
Embarking on a Global Exchange, however, can be very daunting, as students attend classes at a host university alongside local and exchange students from around the world. But for Montero, the experience was transformative, expanding her circle of friends to include people from Algeria, Egypt, Taiwan, Russia, Syria and Sweden.
“My world has expanded so much, and I hope to continue making friends from different walks of life and keep learning from them,” she said.
Sullivan Warren in Kosovo, Croatia, and Czech Republic
This summer, International Programs launched a new study abroad program in Pristina, Kosovo, led by Terry Coonan, executive director of the Center for the Advancement of Human Rights at FSU.
Located in the heart of the Balkans and slightly larger than Delaware, Kosovo is a Muslim-majority country of 1.9 million that declared independence from Serbia after the Kosovo War of 1998-1999. The program focuses on human rights issues that emerged from the Balkan Wars of the 1990s and included visits with numerous stakeholders in the human rights community in Kosovo. Students stayed in the city of Pristina, a cultural and economic hub and the country’s capital.
Sullivan Warren, a senior in the College of Business majoring in finance and marketing with a minor in international affairs, participated in the inaugural program. She and other students met government leaders and stakeholders of the United Nations and the European Union, including the Speaker of the Kosovo Assembly Glauk Konjufca and the Deputy Prime Minister for the Government of Kosovo Besnik Bislimi.
After participating in the “Human Rights in Europe’s Newest Democracy” program, Warren was off to Dubrovnik, Croatia, for the 4-week study abroad program “Security and Cooperation in Southeastern Europe”led by Lee Metcalf, director of the international affairs program and teaching professor in the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy.
“My time with Professor Metcalf and the other students in this program was amazing,” Warren said. “Some other international students from the Balkan region (Croatia, Serbia, North Macedonia, etc.) were with us for the second part of the week during courses. I loved meeting these students and look forward to following where life takes them via social media.”
Warren then traveled to the Czech Republic to participate in the “Social Work and International Affairs: Human Rights” program led by Na’ama Naagar, teaching faculty III and specialist in International Relations, Middle East Politics, and Political Violence, along with Neill Abell, professor and director of international programs in the College of Social Work.
Students studied contemporary human rights and social justice issues through the historical context of fascism and communism, gaining firsthand experience living in the capital city of Prague, a cultural, political and historical hub of Europe.
“My summer experience with FSUIP was nothing short of exciting and lifechanging,” she said. “The 12 weeks I’ve spent in Eastern Europe taught many professional and personal lessons for which I am grateful. I am excited to see the fruition of my efforts and summer learning.”
William Gragg in Tallahassee, Florida
While some students went abroad, sophomore and chemical engineering major William Gragg spent his summer obtaining a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) Certificate at the Center for Intensive English Studies (CIES) at FSU.
CIES is an English language school that prepares international students for success at English-speaking universities. Students earning the TEFL Certificate work with international English language learners at CIES to get real experience through structured tutoring and exchange opportunities.
“This experience showed me that you don’t necessarily need to go international to get an international experience, and it’s easy to create a diverse community if you open yourself up to various ways of life,” Gragg said. “I’ve learned so much about teaching English while simultaneously building a network of international students who have all become close friends of mine.”
The program is structured to give an overview of TEFL, teaching methodologies, how to assess students, and practical applications to teaching grammar, reading, writing, listening and speaking. Gragg got to know students from all around the world and went on several local excursions with them.
“I’ve joined a new community through my involvement with the TEFL certification course and CIES,” he said. “Every day I learned something new about an international culture, whether it be from a classmate who is interested in assimilating into that culture or from a representative of that culture.”
After this experience, Gragg plans to create a registered student organization called the Second Language Acquisition Network Group (SLANG) for those who speak or are interested in learning different languages.“I can’t begin to explain the sense of community FSU’s CIES program offers, and I will stop in to say hello throughout the rest of my time at FSU,” he said.
Your turn
So, what will you do next summer? Explore the countryside of Italy, or conduct research at a university in Ireland? Stay in Tallahassee and get a TEFL certificate, or spend a few months learning about politics in Eastern Europe? The possibilities are endless.
For more information about International Programs, visit international.fsu.edu. To learn more about the Center for Global Engagement and Global Exchanges, visit cge.fsu.edu. For more information about the Center for Intensive English Studies and obtaining a TEFL Certificate, visit cies.fsu.edu.
Students Alanna Densmore, Sullivan Warren and William Gragg documented their experiences in a series of blog posts as part of the FSU Global Scholars program, which offers a unique opportunity for undergraduate students to engage with critical questions about social impact, social justice, and social change through a combination of academic, classroom-based learning as well as independent research, internship, and/or service-learning experiences.
Applications to be a part of the 2025 Global Scholars cohort are open now until 11:59 p.m. Monday, Nov. 4. To apply, click here.