Twenty-two Florida State University students will study around the world this summer through the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program.
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the Gilman Scholarship gives students the opportunity to study or intern in foreign countries, providing students with skills critical to U.S. national security and economic prosperity while preparing them for a globalized world. To be eligible for the Gilman Program, applicants must have a strong academic record and plan to pursue a credit-bearing experience. Applicants must also be receiving a Federal Pell Grant during the time of application or provide proof that they will be receiving a Pell Grant during the term of their study abroad program or internship.
Since its inception, FSU has had 187 Gilman Scholars who have studied abroad in 43 different countries and earned over $700,000 toward their international experiences. With this award, Florida State students join the prestigious ranks of the Gilman alumni network stretching across the globe.
“Our 2025 class is a particularly impressive group of young scholars,” said Jesse Wieland, associate director of the Office of National Fellowships. “These students didn’t shy away from Gilman’s most competitive application cycles to date but rather used that competition as motivation to craft compelling application materials. Our Gilman scholars are a microcosm of the creativity and academic rigor amongst our student body; they all found ideal study programs that align with their majors or professional aspirations in coordination with FSU faculty and staff.”
The Institute of International Education (IIE) has administered the program since its inception in 2001, with more than 28,000 students awarded. The IIE received a record high of 17,000 applications across the 2024-2025 academic cycle, and FSU awardees are among those selected to pursue an international experience over the summer.
Nine of the 22 recipients will use the Gilman Scholarship to participate in study abroad experiences administered through FSU International Programs. Shinaika Hiller, Jean-Luc Cruz, and Alyia Fitzgerald will participate in the “Social Work & International Affairs: Human Rights” program in Prague, Czech Republic this summer.
Hiller, a senior majoring in international affairs, hopes to learn how human rights have historically manifested in the Czech Republic and looks forward to enhancing her cultural skills while learning to engage with emotionally sensitive information as she prepares for a career in medical malpractice law.
Hiller also received the Carl and JoAnn Blackwell Scholarship Fund for International Studies Scholarship, which is awarded to students in the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy studying abroad to improve their foreign language skills or further their understanding of other cultures, international politics or global economic relationships.
“Within my career, I will be challenged to consistently process emotionally sensitive information objectively to efficiently represent my clients,” Hiller said. “Additionally, my clients will have different cultural backgrounds so it will be important to know more about different cultures and perspectives to further enhance my understanding.”
Cruz, a junior pursuing dual degrees in international affairs and political science, hopes to gain a better understanding of both the history of Prague itself and the impact that international human rights enforcement has on global conflicts. He also received a scholarship from FSU’s Center for Undergraduate Research and Academic Engagement (CRE) to help cover the costs of the program.
“This experience will provide me with a unique opportunity to study a topic that is extremely important to me — human rights — in a city whose history has been shaped by human rights tragedies,” Cruz said.
While abroad, Cruz will also conduct research for his capstone project through FSU’s Global Scholars Program, which provides an opportunity for undergraduate students to engage with questions about social impact through a combination of academic, classroom-based learning as well as independent research, internship and/or service-learning experiences.
Fitzgerald, a sophomore double majoring in sociology and psychology, intends to pursue a career devoted to helping underserved communities. She hopes participating in this program will be a deeply meaningful experience.
“I am excited for all that I will learn and bring back with me to the United States—including a greater cultural awareness, new approaches to addressing social inequality, a deeper understanding of global human rights practices, and direct insight that can help inform community advocacy, legal reform, and social service work here at home,” Fitzgerald said.
Emberly Dennis, Jackzyri Torres and Shania Folkes will each pursue programs at the FSU London Study Centre through International Programs.
Dennis, a junior double majoring in psychology and sociology, will participate in the eight-week psychology program. Dennis was also awarded the Bess H. Ward Travel Grant for this experience. The grant is given to FSU Honors students traveling abroad for an approved activity. Planning to later pursue a Ph.D. in clinical psychology with a focus on Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), Dennis hopes to use her graduate experience to join a therapy practice or create her own women’s mental health clinic.
“Studying abroad in London presents an invaluable opportunity for me to deepen my understanding of psychology, gain a global perspective on mental health, and enhance my career path as I work toward closing the gap in women-specific mental health research and resources,” Dennis said.
Torres, a sophomore double-majoring in psychology and social work, will participate in the same program. In addition to the Gilman Scholarship’s support, she received a Summer Scholarship through International Programs, which supports FSU students admitted to a summer program. She also received funding from the Illuminate Program and Scholarship, which promotes student engagement, belonging and participation in experiential learning and is administered by FSU’s Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement (CARE).
“This experience will allow me an insight into diverse cultures and provide me with a broader perspective on how different societies approach challenges,” Torres said. “In doing so, I will become a more culturally competent professional and look at global challenges through various lenses.”
Folkes, a junior majoring in cellular-molecular neuroscience with a minor in chemistry, will participate in the “Diseases: Past, Present, and Future” program, which focuses on the concepts of public health and epidemiology in the context of London. Folkes plans to attend medical school after graduation and hopes to learn a deep understanding of current and future efforts to maintain public health through this experience.
“The study of epidemiology provides insight into warning signs that specialists and members of the population should look for to get ahead of the curve—prevention is essential,” Folkes said. “This program will inform my current practice as a nurse and my future practice as an MD. I also hope to start a nonprofit clinic, where these teachings will be extremely useful.”
Allyson Anderson, a junior majoring in Russian and East European Studies, will participate in the “Experiencing Germany” program through International Programs to complete her German minor. The program takes place in Dresden, Germany, and includes a culture course taught exclusively in German and a language course in partnership with the Goethe Institute, Germany’s official cultural center. Anderson also received a Summer Scholarship through International Programs. Through this experience, Anderson hopes to gain a deep understanding of targeted groups, memories pertaining to human rights abuses, crimes against humanity, and the vibrant cultures that existed before, during and after those tragedies.
“My goal is to use my knowledge of history, culture, and language to encourage people to be more aware of international conflicts and their impacts on people, not just politics,” Anderson said. “After graduating, I hope to enroll in a master’s program in Germany to further study and research human rights, collective memory, and conflict resolution.”
Keyli Ramirez and Melannie Turino will participate in the Broad Curriculum Program at the FSU Valencia Study Center through International Programs.
Ramirez, a sophomore double majoring in finance and real estate, said she hopes this experience will benefit her professional development as a first-generation Latina.
“It’s an honor to bridge cultural understanding and engage in opportunities to network and gain real-world experience for my career development and personal growth,” Ramirez said. “Valencia’s focus on sustainability, historical preservation and development of urban design amongst their residents is a unique approach that entices me and is something I look forward to engaging in.”
Turino, a freshman majoring in finance, will also study abroad at the FSU Valencia Study Center this summer. In addition to the Gilman Scholarship, Turino also received an experiential learning grant from FSU’s CARE QUEST Scholars Program, which supports internships, undergraduate research, study abroad or service-learning opportunities for those in the cohort.
“Taking classes related to my major in a different country will challenge me to think critically and adapt to new ways of learning, strengthening my academic skills,” Turino said. “I will also be exposed to international markets and economic systems, which is valuable knowledge for a future career in finance.”
Victoria Augustin, a junior majoring in criminology and criminal justice with a minor in political science, is using the Gilman Scholarship to work in Ghana this summer. Augustin will serve as a Child Labour and Trafficking Project Coordinator with Patriots Ghana, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting human rights, child protection and community development in the country.
As an intern, Augustin will contribute to projects focused on reducing exploitation and improving conditions for vulnerable populations, particularly children.
“This experience will allow me to apply my criminology and political science studies in a real-world, cross-cultural setting,” Augustin said. “It will enhance my understanding of global human rights issues, expand my perspective on international legal frameworks, and strengthen my preparation for a future career in civil rights and immigration law.”
Alanna Rivera, a sophomore majoring in behavioral neuroscience, will travel to Rome, Italy, to work in a psychology research lab at La Sapienza University. Rivera found her experience through the Institute for the International Education of Students (IES Abroad), a non-profit study abroad organization that administers study abroad programs for U.S. college students. In addition to the Gilman Scholarship, she is also supported by a grant from IES Abroad and scholarships from FSU’s Global Scholars Program and CARE.
“This experience will allow me to gain hands-on experience in a laboratory, working on cognitive neuroscience research, and prepare me for medical school to pursue a career as a neurologist specializing in neurodegenerative diseases,” Rivera said.
Students interested in learning more about the Benjamin A. Gilman scholarship can email FSU’s Office of National Fellowships to set up an advising appointment. To learn more about FSU International Programs, visit international.fsu.edu. For more Information about the FSU Global Scholars Program, visit cre.fsu.edu/global/globalscholars. To learn more about the FSU Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement (CARE), visit care.fsu.edu.
This year’s Gilman winners, their destination country and major are:
Shinaika Hiller | Czech Republic | International Affairs
Allyson Anderson | Germany | Russian and East European Studies
Syrai Austin | United Kingdom | Nursing
Isabelle Rodriguez | Bolivia | Pre-Clinical Professions
Alanna Rivera | Italy | Behavioral Neuroscience
Emberly Dennis | United Kingdom | Psychology/Sociology
Victoria Augustin | Ghana | Criminology and Criminal Justice
Shania Folkes | United Kingdom | Cellular-Molecular Neuroscience
Alyia Fitzgerald | Czech Republic | Sociology/Psychology
Jackzyri Torres | United Kingdom | Psychology/Social Work
Claudia Angulo-Roberts | Italy | Communication Science and Disorders
Melannie Turino | Spain | Finance
Jean-Luc Cruz | Czech Republic | International Affairs/Political Science
Keyli Ramirez | Spain | Finance/Real Estate
Reueleasah Jean-Francois | Italy | Art History
Fay Muayad | Spain | Criminology
Fabianna Silva | France | International Affairs/Theatre
Charlize Humes | Italy | Retail Entrepreneurship
Soraya Joachim | Italy | Human Development and Family Science
Alessandra Longo | Spain | Political Science
Marcela Nieves | Italy | Accounting
Yasmeen Masanti | France | Dance