Florida State University continues to shine as a leader in international education as the hosting institution for the new Tyler Center for Global Studies, an independent international research organization that offers competitive fellowships at major universities.
William H. Tyler III established the Tyler Center for Global Studies in 2022 through a generous gift from the Tyler Foundation with the goal of cultivating a community of global scholars who shape the future through research, innovation and collaboration. FSU serves as the coordinating institution to connect a network of schools with undergraduate students across the U.S. seeking to pursue international research.
“The Tyler Center believes that the issues and challenges facing society today are more global in nature than ever before, and that the key to successfully meeting and overcoming these challenges hinges on building an awareness of and appreciation for global solutions,” said Tyler, who passed away in August 2024.
Support from the Tyler Fellowship has allowed recipients to pursue independent research projects across the world, from Scandinavia to South America. The Tyler network stretches from California to Florida, and its grant program has invested $120,000 in 49 students whose research has touched 22 countries.
The Tyler Center hosted its first virtual summit Nov. 20 to showcase Tyler Fellows from seven universities, including FSU, and their international research experiences.
The virtual summit featured presentations from five student researchers, including two FSU students — Sarah Brophy, a senior majoring in history and political science; and Kieran Stenson, a senior majoring in history with a minor in Russian & Eastern European studies. Students presented research projects ranging from anthropology in Argentina to lava flow in Iceland.
“The Tyler Fellowship is such a valuable opportunity to have for FSU students because it makes two incredible experiences — undergraduate research and going abroad —possible,” Stenson said. “It allowed me to travel in Poland, conducting research while knowing that I had financial and personal support from the Tyler Center. I never could have done the same research without the Tyler Fellowship, and I remain extremely grateful for having received it.”
Since 2022, the Tyler Center has supported the research of 15 students at FSU, all of whom have showcased their projects at the President’s Showcase for Undergraduate Research Excellence, FSU’s premier undergraduate research event.
“It’s admittedly difficult for an undergraduate to design a research project on their own, let alone conduct that research in a foreign country,” said Cary Wall, program manager for the Tyler Center for Global Studies. “The Tyler Fellowship presents a unique opportunity to conduct research at the international level, which is invaluable to all students, regardless of major. Whether you’re a studio artist or a biomathematics scholar, this experience equips you with the critical qualities of leadership, foresight, global mindedness and diligence.”
Tyler was a businessman deeply committed to philanthropy with a passion for education. Born and raised in California, he earned both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in economics from UC Berkeley before pursuing a career in the insurance industry. Tyler’s commitment to philanthropy and education led him to serve as president of the Carmel Public Library Foundation, serve on the Johns Hopkins University Libraries and Museums National Advisory Board and sponsor the Tyler Fellowships for visiting professors at the Middlebury Institute for International Studies. Other accomplishments include holding the title of governor emeritus of the National Winston Churchill Museum, being named 2023 Philanthropist of the Year for the Central Coast and serving as a trustee of Westminster College for two decades.
The Tyler Center recently closed its 2025 call for proposals, which sought funding proposals from two- and four-year public and private higher education institutions across the United States. The grant winners will join the network of Tyler partners and expand the number of Tyler Fellows pursuing international research. In the most recent funding cycle, the network of Tyler Partners included Austin Community College, California State University-Monterey Bay, Louisiana State University, the State Center Community College District, University of California-San Diego, and University of Missouri-Kansas City.
For more information about the Tyler Center for Global Studies, visit tylercenter.fsu.edu.