Florida State University welcomed the former Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs for a lecture last week, where he spoke to students, staff and faculty about the shifting global order and opportunities to shape future paradigms.  

Ambassador Thomas A. Shannon, Jr. delivered the lecture “Strategic Leadership in the 21st Century: How You Can Shape the Emerging Global Order” March 26 in the Globe Auditorium as part of the Center for Global Engagement’s Engage Your World Speaker Series and the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy’s Ruth K. and Shepard Broad International Lecture Series. 

“I wanted to speak to all of you, especially as students, about the kind of world that you’re going to be sailing into and the kind of impact you can have in that world,” Shannon said. 

Shannon’s diplomatic career spans nearly 35 years, from 1984 until his retirement in February 2018. Before his term as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, he held positions including U.S. Ambassador to Brazil and Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs.  

The Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, the third-ranking position at the State Department, reports to the Secretary of State and is responsible for directing the day-to-day operations at the Department of State, including managing international crises and U.S. foreign policy. Shannon served in this role from 2016 until his retirement in 2018. While in this role, Shannon helped manage the 2017 presidential transition and led bilateral and multilateral foreign policymaking and implementation. 

Having served in multiple presidential administrations and embassies, Shannon offered insight into what he calls a “transformative” global era and challenged audience members to consider their place within it.  

“The nature of this moment means that we are capable of changing the world around us,” he said. “We’re capable of rethinking our national political purpose, but also how we project ourselves into the world.” 

Shannon argued that while states are central to the global order, societies and cultures will play an increasing role in defining the future.  

“A country like the United States, which is really one of the few global countries in the world, not just cosmopolitan, but global, is uniquely positioned to take advantage of this kind of environment and uniquely positioned to be able to communicate beyond our frontiers,” he said. “Not just government to government, but society to society and people to people.”  

Shannon also cited technology as the medium for driving global engagements, maintaining that the ability to evolve with these changes will determine state success. 

“With the kinds of dramatic technological advances we’re going to see today, lack of access or inequality is going to become a defining feature of almost all political dialogue and engagement,” he said. “The successful politicians and the successful countries are going to be those that empower societies, empower individuals, and that open access to the kinds of changes that we’re going to see in the world.” 

He emphasized that future generations have a responsibility to both answer and shape the world’s shifting demands.  

“It doesn’t matter where you are. You could be a hermit living in a cave with a goat, and the world is going to come and find you, and it’s going to ask you to participate in this larger effort,” he said. “You are going to be called upon. People are going to want to know what you think. People are going to want to know how things should be resolved. And this is an opportunity that is rarely given.” 

After the lecture, Shannon sat down with Mark Schlakman, the senior program director for the FSU Center for the Advancement of Human Rights, to answer questions about current affairs and the United States’ interests. 

“I want you to understand that there is a significant shift taking place in how the president and his party are thinking about the U.S. position in the world, and what it is we need to be focused on, and how we need to be protecting it,” Shannon said. 

Shannon’s lecture served as both a lesson and a roadmap to students as they prepare to navigate an interconnected world.  

“This is not a time to be fearful,” he said. “This is not a time to be doubtful. This is a time to understand that we are in a moment of change and that this change is going to be profound. It’s not only going to be profound for our nation. It’s going to be profound for how we relate to the world and therefore, how the world progresses.” 

For more information about the Center for Global Engagement, visit their website at cge.fsu.edu. To learn more about the Center for the Advancement of Human Rights, visit their website at cahr.fsu.edu. For more information about the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy, visit their website at cosspp.fsu.edu.  

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Ambassador Thomas A. Shannon Jr., former Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, will speak at Florida State University at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, March 26, on “Strategic Leadership in the 21st Century: How You Can Shape the Emerging Global Order.” 

During his lecture, Shannon will explore the forces driving global transformation, the fluid nature of today’s world, the enduring influence of the U.S. in shaping global order and how emerging generations will define the future. This event is co-sponsored by the FSU College of Social Sciences and Public Policy’s Ruth K. and Shepard Broad International Lecture Series and the Center for Global Engagement’s Engage Your World Speaker Series.  

The event, which is free and open to the public, will take place at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, March 26, in The Globe Auditorium, 110 S. Woodward Ave. A reception will take place beforehand at 4 p.m. in the lobby of The Globe. 

The Under Secretary for Political Affairs reports to the Secretary of State and is responsible for directing the day-to-day operations at the Department of State, including managing international crises and U.S. foreign policy.  

Shannon received his master’s and doctorate in politics from Oxford University after graduating with honors from the College of William and Mary in 1980, where he studied government and philosophy.  

Shannon’s diplomatic career spans nearly 35 years, from 1984 until his retirement in February 2018. Before his term as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, he held positions including U.S. Ambassador to Brazil and Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs.  

Attendees can park in either the Traditions Parking Garage or the Pensacola Parking Garage without an FSU permit after 4:30 p.m.  

For more information, visit calendar.fsu.edu. 

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Florida State University’s Ukraine Task Force (UTF) recently welcomed a leading analyst, lecturer and scholar on international relations to deliver a lecture and speak to classes about the everchanging political landscape of Eastern Europe.  

Kateryna Shynkaruk, a senior lecturer at Texas A&M’s Bush School of Government and Public Service in Washington D.C. and nonresident scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, delivered the talk “Ukraine and European Security: War, Identity and the Future of the International Order” Tuesday, March 10, in The Globe Auditorium as part of the Center for Global Engagement’s Engage Your World Speaker Series.  

“My lecture was about European security and how it is affected by the Ukraine war and basically how Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has completely overturned the European security architecture,” Shynkaruk said. “I thoroughly enjoyed the questions and answer session with students. They clearly were engaged and I was positively impressed by how closely they followed it.” 

Shynkaruk has published more than 30 articles on the topics of post-communist transformations in Ukraine and across Eastern Europe. She spent seven years working as a political analyst at the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine and six years covering Ukraine’s foreign and security policy as a senior research fellow at the Kyiv-based Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting.  

She was grateful to be able to share her knowledge gained from these experiences with faculty, staff and students. 

“My hope is that there is this interest actually in European affairs, that it is strengthened through engagements like my visit and generally that there is more interest in Ukraine, in European security and European affairs built here among students,” Shynkaruk said. “My meetings with faculty members were another very positive experience, seeing how the faculty is interested in exposing more perspectives on European affairs. If I have inspired any of them [students] to follow our potential avenues that I mentioned, that would be an amazing outcome.” 

Housed in FSU’s Learning Systems Institute (LSI), the UTF was established in 2022 as part of the university’s broader internationalization strategy and aims to forge partnerships between FSU and Ukrainian scholars and educate the FSU community about Ukraine. 

One of the goals of the UTF is to reach FSU students and educate them about Ukraine, its current and historical relationships with Europe and Russia, and its relevance to American security and economic interests. In 2025 alone, the UTF hosted 21 Ukrainian visitors and offered 17 educational events. 

“I was hosted graciously by the Ukraine Task Force here at FSU. I was positively impressed by the work they’re doing,” Shynkaruk said. “When teaching students, I do believe that direct information is always better than interpretations through second and third-hand perspectives. So, whenever you have a Ukrainian expert or a Ukrainian coming from Ukraine at the table in the classroom, you will have students exposed to a real-life experience and perspective rather than reading about it.” 

Most recently, FSU signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy (NaUKMA) last semester to expand global connections and outreach. The UTF also hosted two Ukrainian scholars last semester through the BridgeUSA Ukraine Program for Resilience Reconstruction (BridgeUSA UPRR), an exchange program funded by the U.S. State Department that connects Ukrainian and American researchers.  

“The work they [the UTF] are doing and the fact that they also bring people from Ukraine directly — some cultural presence, some academic presence — there is no better way to learn than to learn from the perspective of the ground,” Shynkaruk said. “The resilience of Ukrainian people, the challenges, the political landscape, all these pros and cons. If you don’t have a Ukrainian at the table, then this is an abstract conversation.” 

LSI strives to lead the way in creating innovative educational solutions that seamlessly connect theory with practice. Through advanced research, LSI develops industry-leading methods and implementation strategies to enhance systematic learning at all levels and in all environments. For more than five decades, LSI has been committed to driving measurable improvements in the performance of both individuals and organizations. 

For more information about the UTF, visit the UTF webpage on LSI’s website. To learn more about FSU’s global footprint, visit global.fsu.edu. 

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Florida State University is marking the Peace Corps’ 65th anniversary with National Peace Corps Week events March 2–5 and celebrating more than 900 FSU alumni who have served communities around the world through the international volunteer program. 

Established by President John F. Kennedy on March 1, 1961, the Peace Corps sends American volunteers to live and work in communities around the world for two-year assignments focused on education, health, agriculture and community development. Today, Florida remains one of the top states producing Peace Corps volunteers, with FSU alumni continuing that tradition of service. 

“FSU students consistently demonstrate the curiosity, resilience and compassion that make strong Peace Corps volunteers,” said Heather Jordan, FSU’s Peace Corps recruiter. “Serving isn’t just about what you give; it’s about how you grow. Many volunteers discover new strengths, new perspectives and lifelong connections that influence the rest of their careers.” 

As FSU’s Peace Corps campus recruiter, it’s Jordan’s job to increase awareness of volunteer opportunities through outreach, class presentations and hosting workshops and information sessions. Peace Corps information sessions take place on Wednesdays at 2 p.m. and Thursdays at 12 p.m. in Room 2300 of The Globe.  

National Peace Corps Week kicked off at FSU Monday, March 2, with “Coffee Hour with the FSU Peace Corps Recruiter.” Jordan hosted the informal drop-in session for interested students to learn about service opportunities, the application timeline, and what they can expect during their two years abroad.  

The Center for Global Engagement will host a Peace Corps Panel at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 5, in The Globe Auditorium as part of its Engage Your World Speaker Series. Jordan and several other Peace Corps volunteers will have an open discussion about the Peace Corps process and experience. Doors will open at 5 p.m. for a meet and greet with light refreshments.   

As a Peace Corps volunteer from 2003 to 2005 in Monapo, Mozambique, Jordan taught English and health education, sparking a lifelong passion for public health and service.  

Florida is one of the top five states in the U.S. in producing volunteers. Lydia Howald, an FSU alumnus who graduated in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in International Affairs, joined the Peace Corps in 2025 and is serving as a volunteer in Zambia working on the Linking Income Food and Environment (LIFE) project. 

Through the LIFE project, Peace Corps Zambia is collaborating with Zambia’s Department of Forestry to help conserve natural resources. As a volunteer working on the LIFE project, Howald lives amongst small-scale maize farmers and teaches them aboutagroforestry, a practice that integrates trees and shrubs with crops or pastures.  

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PHOTO GALLERY

The Florida State University Center for Global Engagement’s 31st Annual International Bazaar drew approximately 900 attendees to the Student Union Ballrooms Saturday, Feb. 14, for a vibrant showcase of music, flavors and traditions from around the globe.  

The International Bazaar is a free event that allows campus groups to share their history and heritage while giving students, staff, faculty and Tallahassee community members the opportunity to learn about other traditions from around the world. With over 2,500 international students and scholars on campus from 120 countries, this year’s International Bazaar highlighted the rich global community at FSU. 

“The International Bazaar reflects the incredible range of cultures present at Florida State University and within the greater Tallahassee community,” said Chandler Gadea-Guidicelli, assistant director of Communications and Programs at the CGE. “It creates space for domestic students and community members to engage with cultures from around the world, fostering meaningful understanding and connections that extend beyond campus.”

Attendees enjoyed a variety of international music and dance performances as well as cultural table displays from student organizations. Performances ranged from choreography by K-Pop dance group SeoulaSystem to a showcase by The Belly Dancers at Florida State and a production by the Indian Student Association of Tallahassee (INSAT) focusing on the “Mythologies of India.”  

Other performances included live music by the SG Ensemble from the College of Music, a flamenco show by Flamenco Tallahassee, choreography by Indak, the Filipino Student Association’s traditional dance troupe, and a showcase by Tallahassee Capoeira. 

In addition to music and performances throughout the afternoon, 20 groups and organizations had their own interactive tables on display across the venue. These included Registered Student Organizations, fraternities and sororities from the Multicultural Greek Council, academic departments and centers, and Tallahassee-based international groups.

Ramisa Anjum, an undergraduate student pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering from the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, was at the event representing the Bangladeshi Student Association. As an international student from Bangladesh, a South Asian country situated to the east of India on the Bay of Bengal, Anjum enjoyed having the opportunity to share her culture with others while learning about other traditions from around the world.  

“I kind of want to give everyone an immersive experience here to see what our culture is like and basically have fun and be part of the community,” she said. 

There was also a kids’ corner with a variety of activities, and a sampling of international snacks and drinks including vegetable dumplings, tamales de elote, pistachio baklava and mango juice or hibiscus tea.  

While the International Bazaar serves as its flagship annual intercultural event, the CGE coordinates events and programs throughout the year to help develop a culturally enriching learning environment at FSU. From International Coffee Hour and Global Café to the Engage Your World Speaker Series and a variety of other programs in collaboration with academic departments and student organizations, the CGE serves as the campus hub for international activity 

The CGE is key to providing learning experiences for FSU students and promoting interaction between domestic and international students. 

For more information about CGE and the International Bazaar, visit cge.fsu.edu. To learn more about FSU’s global footprint, visit global.fsu.edu. 

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The Florida State University Center for Global Engagement’s Annual International Bazaar brings an opportunity for FSU and the Tallahassee community to experience and explore different cultures without leaving town. The event gives campus cultural groups the opportunity to share their history and culture. 

Attendees can enjoy a variety of international music and dance performances as well as cultural table displays, a kids’ corner and international snacks and drinks. 

The event, which is free and open to the public, will take place from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, at the FSU Student Union Ballrooms, 75 N. Woodward Ave. 

Visit the FSU calendar event page for more information. 

ABOUT THE CENTER FOR GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT

The Center for Global Engagement (CGE) offers educational, social and cultural programs for all students throughout the year. The CGE at FSU provides immigration advising and ongoing support to over 2,100 enrolled international students, over 400 recent graduates participating in optional practical training, and over 90 visiting scholars from around the world. The CGE’s goal is to promote interaction among students of all cultures and help develop a culturally enriching learning environment throughout the FSU community. 

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Florida State University’s College of Communication and Information hosted the 12th annual South Asian Media and Cultural Studies (SAMCS) Conference, a premier international forum for researchers, scholars and practitioners engaged in dialogue surrounding media and culture in South Asia.

The hybrid event Jan. 29 and Jan. 30 took place at The Globe Auditorium and online at the College of Communication and Information’s YouTube channel and the SAMCS YouTube channel. Attendees from around the world joined both in-person and virtually to discuss topics including contemporary challenges in journalism, cultural preservation and resilience, different demographic groups’ media engagement and identity expression through media in South Asia.

This year’s conference theme “Resilience and Renewal: Tradition, Innovation, and Media Futures in South Asia” explored the role of media and communications in preserving identity, sharing knowledge and responding to change across local, Indigenous and urban communities.

Michael R. Ogden, dean emeritus of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Zayed University in Dubai, delivered the keynote address, “Indigenous Responses to South Asia’s Climate Crisis,” that focused on Indigenous documentary, climate resilience and the role of South Asian perspectives in shaping global media futures.

An accomplished scholar, storyteller and documentary filmmaker originally from Oregon, Ogden served two years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Fiji before earning a Ph.D. in political science and pursuing an academic career. His work focuses on Indigenous communities, media and long-term responsibility in the context of a changing climate.

“If we are serious about the theme of this conference — resilience and renewal, tradition, innovation and media futures in South Asia — then we owe the pathfinders a new politics of representation,” he said.  

He explained that the challenges faced by the world today really have to do with how we think about time. Through examples from South Asia, Ogden demonstrated the Seventh Generation principle, an Indigenous philosophy that says every decision made today should consider its impact on people living seven generations in the future.

“When you make a decision today, you are accountable to descendants seven generations into the future,” he said. “If we assume that one human generation is roughly 25 years, that’s a decision horizon of nearly 175 years.”  

The conference continued Friday, Jan. 30, with opening remarks from Michelle Kazmer, dean of the College of Communication and Information.

“This marks the 12th year that a group of students, faculty, alumni and friends have worked together to organize this important forum,” Kazmer said “I hope that this is a chance to learn more about South Asia, make new connections, get in touch with old friends, and to build relationships with colleagues from around the world.”  

The program consisted of four presentation panels, where speakers representing universities from around the world including countries like India, Pakistan, Belgium and Bangladesh spoke on topics ranging from media innovation in South Asia to resilience and representation. The panels are available to watch on the SAMCS YouTube channel.

Taimur Shamil, a national security and foreign policy expert from Pakistan and based in New York, delivered the closing keynote. His talk, “The Narrative Power: Mapping South Asian Think Tanks and Their Influence on Policy Formulation,” focused on how South Asian think tanks shape public debate and influence policy formation.  

“Think tanks are the architects of reality,” Shamil said.

He described South Asia as a politically complex region shaped by geography, security disputes and development challenges, and argued that think tanks help create the language and data used in public debate. During the question-and-answer portion of his talk, Shamil emphasized the importance of grassroots engagement and including multiple perspectives while acknowledging ongoing concerns about bias and how research gets translated into real policy.

“Ideas actually generate from the grassroots level, and a researcher must be connected with the people because that is where the ideas are,” he said.   

From journalism and film to digital storytelling, strategic communications and grassroots media, the conference included a range of perspectives on how tradition and innovation intersect in everyday practice.

“This annual conference brings together students, scholars and practitioners to create space for deeper understanding and long-term collaboration,” said Steve McDowell, FSU’s assistant provost for International Initiatives and interim dean of The Graduate School. “The conversations that happen here continue to shape research, teaching and global engagement at FSU, in South Asia, and beyond.”

McDowell, who also serves as the John H. Phipps Professor of Communication in the College of Communication and Information, planned the conference alongside a committee led by Vaibhav Diwanji, a research assistant professor at the University of Kansas and two-time alumnus of FSU’s School of Communication. Originally from India, Diwanji said he’s proud to continue offering a global platform that brings together scholars, practitioners and policymakers without any registration cost.

“As an FSU alumnus, it’s especially meaningful to see this space continue to grow as a platform for dialogue, collaboration and new ways of thinking about media and culture in South Asia” he said.

The conference was also hosted in collaboration with the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy’s Ruth K. Shepard Broad International Lecture Series and the Center for Global Engagement’s Engage Your World Speaker Series.  

The conference also included a photo exhibit and book launch highlighting the work of Kids of Kathmandu, a nonprofit organization connected to Bhushan Dahal, a doctoral candidate from Nepal pursuing a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy at the FSU Anne Spencer Daves College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences. The photos and book document a decade of the organization’s work building schools in Nepal in partnership with local community groups.

The annual event aims to spark new ideas, conversations and scholarly collaborations through engaging presentations, discussions and shared experiences to celebrate and amplify underrepresented voices in South Asia, and beyond. The modern nations of South Asia include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.  

To learn more about the College of Communication and Information at FSU, visit cci.fsu.edu. For more information about the SAMCS Conference, visit comm.cci.fsu.edu/faculty-research/south-asian-media-studies/south-asian-media-studies-conference/.   

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Florida State University’s College of Communication and Information will host the 12th Annual South Asian Media and Cultural Studies (SAMCS) Conference Thursday, Jan. 29, and Friday, Jan. 30. 

The SAMCS conference serves as a premier international forum for researchers, scholars and practitioners engaged in dialogue surrounding media and culture in South Asia. Presenters will join the conference from around the world to speak on topics including contemporary challenges in journalism, cultural preservation and resilience, demographic media engagement, and identity through media in South Asia. 

This year’s theme “Resilience and Renewal: Tradition, Innovation, and Media Futures in South Asia” explores the role of media and communications in preserving identity, sharing knowledge and responding to change across local, Indigenous and urban communities.   

The conference will feature two keynote speakers. Michael R. Ogden, dean emeritus of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Zayed University in Dubai, will deliver the talk “Indigenous Responses to South Asia’s Climate Crisis” at 5:30 p.m. ET Thursday, Jan. 29, in-person at The Globe Auditorium (110 S. Woodward Ave.). Those unable to attend the lecture in person can livestream it here.    

Ogden is an accomplished teacher, filmmaker and storyteller. After serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Fiji, Ogden earned a doctorate in political science from the University of Hawai‘i. He has held faculty and leadership roles at the University of Hawai‘i, Central Washington University and Zayed University in Dubai, where he served as Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences until his retirement last fall. 

This lecture is in collaboration with the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy’s Ruth K. and Shepard Broad International Lecture Series and the Center for Global Engagement’s Engage Your World Speaker Series. A pre-lecture reception will take place at 5 p.m.   

Taimur Shamil, president and executive director of the thinktank Policy East, will deliver the talk “The Narrative Power: Mapping South Asian Think Tanks and Their Influence on Policy Formulation” at 1:30 p.m. ET Friday, Jan. 30 in-person at The Globe Auditorium, (110 S. Woodward Ave.). Those unable to attend the lecture in person can livestream it here. 

Shamil is a New York based national security and foreign policy expert from Pakistan. He holds a doctorate in International Relations with more than 15 years of service in government, academia and media.Shamil formerly hosted the prime-time program “Dialogue with Taimur Shamil” on Pakistan Television, PTV (World), where he focused on Pakistan’s foreign policy and global politics. His analyses have also appeared regularly on national and international TV Channels like Al-Jazeera, Al-Jazeera Arabic and several others. 

The conference will also include a photo exhibit and book launch highlighting the work of Kids of Kathmandu, a nonprofit organization connected to Bhushan Dahal, a doctoral candidate from Nepal pursuing a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy at the FSU Anne Spencer Daves College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences. The photos and book document a decade of the organization’s work building schools in Nepal in partnership with local community groups. Dahal will be at the conference in person to discuss and answer questions.  

The main conference panels will take place from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. ET Friday, Jan. 30. All conference sessions will be livestreamed on the SAMCS YouTube channel. The opening and closing keynotes will be livestreamed from the College of Communication and Information’s YouTube channel. 

Registration for the conference is free and open to the public. To register, visit comm.cci.fsu.edu/ faculty-research/south-asian-media-studies/south-asian-media-and-cultural-studies-conference/ and scroll to the bottom. View the 2026 SAMCS Conference program.  

To learn more about the College of Communication and Information at FSU, visit cci.fsu.edu. For more information about Kids of Kathmandu, visit kidsofkathmandu.org. 

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Ten Florida State University students earned the Global Citizenship Certificate (GCC) last semester, marking their dedication to cultural competency and global engagement.  

These students, including three who completed the certificate with honors, were celebrated for their achievements during a ceremony on Friday, Dec. 5, in the Globe Auditorium. 

Administered by the Center for Global Engagement and housed academically in the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy’s International Affairs Program, the GCC prepares students to succeed in a global workforce.

“Today, we honor ten students who have exhibited unwavering dedication to practicing global citizenship,” said Bryant Harden, instructional specialist and program director for the GCC. “Each of these graduates took the initiative to go beyond the surface and gain as much as they could from each experience. We are pleased to see all the achievements they have already made and will continue to make in our world.” 

Tim Chapin, dean of the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy, spoke at the ceremony. Na’ama Nagar, director of the International Affairs program and teaching faculty III in the Department of Political Science, also offered congratulatory remarks at the celebration.  

“You chose to engage with the world at a much deeper level during your time at FSU,” she said. “You were clearly curious, you were open-minded, you were reflective, and you’re clearly willing to step outside what is familiar, the familiar box that we all like to be comfortable in.” 

During their participation in the program, students enroll in the IDS 2431 Global Perspectives course, which explores global issues and helps build intercultural competencies. In addition, students had to choose three elective courses from a list of pre-approved courses with an international global focus and attend eight intercultural events. Students also had to complete one sustained intercultural experience domestically or abroad to earn the certificate.   

The program began in 2016 with less than 30 students and now has more than 400 enrolled. Since the start of the program, more than 300 students have earned their Global Citizenship Certificate. 

Leona Sophie Rindle, a senior majoring in Psychology and Human Rights and Social Justice, pursued the certificate to gain new experiences and broaden her perspective. She satisfied her sustained experience requirement while spending the fall 2024 semester studying at Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia, through FSU’s Global Exchange Programs.  

“I rediscovered my passion for traveling and learning about other cultures, as well as improving my adaptability to new environments,” Rindle said. “From scuba diving for the first time in the Great Barrier Reef to a monthlong road trip throughout New Zealand to exploring Bali, I had countless incredible experiences that I will never forget.” 

The experience also reaffirmed her commitment to a future in international human rights law after witnessing the struggles of the First Nations Australians to have their cultural rights respected. 

“As I continue on to law school and pursue a career in international human rights law, I will carry with me the intercultural knowledge and curiosity that the program has instilled in me,” Rindle said. “At its most basic level, (the) GCC has taught me the importance of acknowledging our shared humanity despite cultural differences.” 

She and her cohort will continue to draw from their global citizenship skills to approach their future endeavors with unique insight. 

“The world needs people who boldly bridge divides and show compassion, especially when it’s not convenient,” said Faith Parkinson, current student assistant for the GCC and a participant in the program. “Thank you for your commitment to building a more connected and understanding world.” 

For more information about the GCC, visit cge.fsu.edu/global-citizenship-certificate.  

Graduates are listed by name, major(s) and FSU graduation term and year: 

Graduates with a * next to their graduation year pursued the GCC with Honors, meaning they took an additional course (five in total), maintained a GPA of 3.5 or higher in all the certificate courses and completed an honors synthesis paper. 

Isabella Arruda Batanero, Japanese Language and Culture and International Affairs, Fall 2026  

Catherine Bouington, Literature, Media and Culture and Human Development and Family Sciences, Fall 2025 

Tanushree Dhage, Information Technology, Spring 2027 

Mia Gold, Biological Science and Russian, Spring 2026 

Natalie Gonzalez, Political Science, Spring 2026* 

Aleksandra Grechanik, Behavioral Neuroscience, Spring 2026 

Sandra O’Connell, Spanish, Spring 2026* 

Leona Sophie Rindle, Psychology and Human Rights and Social Justice, Spring 2026* 

Madison Rachelle Trusty, Global Club Management and Leadership, Fall 2025 

Carissa Tse, Public Relations and International Affairs, Spring 2026 

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Last month, Florida State University’s Ukraine Task Force (UTF) welcomed the president of one of the oldest and most respected universities in Ukraine to discuss areas of collaboration and sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the two institutions. 

Serhiy Kvit, president of the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy (NaUKMA), was on FSU’s Tallahassee campus Nov. 16-22 to deliver several lectures and meet with administrators to discuss possible areas of cooperation. Kvit also met with Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs James Clark to sign an MOU between FSU and NaUKMA to expand global connections and outreach.  

“It’s a really important part of Florida State University’s efforts to reach out to the world and be part of our global community in the education sector,” said Steve McDowell, FSU’s assistant provost for International Initiatives and interim dean of The Graduate School. “Florida State University is investing, and has invested for a long time, in being a global university.” 

Established in 1991 but with roots to 1615, NaUKMA is one of the few universities in Ukraine that offers bilingual instruction in English and Ukrainian and internationally recognized diplomas. Through collaboration with FSU, the two universities are merging global goals and furthering these international endeavors. 

Housed in FSU’s Learning Systems Institute (LSI), the UTF was established in 2022 as part of the university’s broader internationalization strategy and aims to forge partnerships between FSU and Ukrainian scholars and educate the FSU community about Ukraine. 

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With a rich history of supporting learning and scholarship in programs around the world, Florida State University has earned top rankings in multiple categories in a new report from the Institute of International Education (IIE). 

FSU is ranked No. 1 among public universities and No. 4 overall for long-term study abroad enrollments in the IIE Open Doors 2025 Report, with 170 students studying abroad for eight weeks or more during the 2023-2024 academic year. FSU also ranked No. 10 among public universities and No. 12 overall for the total number of students studying abroad, with 2,702 students participating in programs in the 2023-2024 academic year.  

“Florida State University’s strong performance in the Open Doors report is continuous and reflects our deep commitment to global engagement and experiential learning,” said Steve McDowell, assistant provost for International Initiatives and interim dean of The Graduate School. “Long-term study abroad experiences provide transformative opportunities for students to immerse themselves in different cultures, broaden their perspectives, and develop skills that prepare them for success in an interconnected world.” 

Open Doors has long been regarded as the comprehensive information resource on international students and scholars in the United States and on U.S. students studying abroad. It is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by IIE.  

The top three leading destinations for study abroad were identified in the report as Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom. FSU’s International Programs maintains a year-round presence in all three countries with study centers in Florence, Valencia and London. FSU also has a branch campus in the Republic of Panama in Panama City. 

Other study abroad opportunities offered by FSU International Programs include programs in Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Kosovo, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Romania and Switzerland. This summer, International Programs is partnering for the first time with the Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement (CARE) to administer the CARE Global Learning Community Internship. The program is part of an initiative by FSU First Lady Jai Vartikar to help make transformative experiential learning opportunities available to more students. With support from Dr. Jai’s First-Gen Explorer’s Fund, first-generation students from CARE will travel to Durban, South Africa, to participate in full-time internships with local organizations and institutions as well as group excursions and language study.    

“Our programs are designed to give students meaningful, hands-on experiences that go beyond the classroom,” said Louisa Blenman, executive director of International Programs. “These opportunities help students grow academically and personally while building lifelong connections across the globe.” 

In addition to opportunities at International Programs, FSU students can also participate in Global Exchanges. Administered through the Center for Global Engagement, FSU’s Global Exchanges provides students the opportunity to attend a university abroad as an exchange student while earning credit and paying FSU tuition and fees. FSU has partnerships with more than 40 universities in 20 countries around the globe. Locations include Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, South Korea, Spain and the United Kingdom. 

For more information about study abroad opportunities through International Programs, visit international.fsu.edu. To learn more about FSU’s Global Exchanges, visit cge.fsu.edu/fsu-global-exchange-programs.   

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When Florida State University student Ava De Gaetano decided to embark on a global exchange to Salaya, Thailand, her ambitions extended beyond academics.  

De Gaetano, a junior studying management information systems in the College of Business, spent the spring 2025 semester studying at Mahidol University through FSU’s Global Exchanges. In addition to academic credit, the experience also provided her with new, independent experiences, professional development and opportunities for personal growth. 

“It was the best decision I’ve made in my life,” she said. 

FSU’s Global Exchanges provide FSU students the opportunity to attend a university abroad as an exchange student for one semester while earning credit and paying FSU tuition and fees.  FSU has partnerships with more than 40 universities in 20 countries around the globe. Global Exchanges also supports the inbound students from these partner universities, who enroll at FSU for one or two semesters and take classes with FSU students while becoming actively engaged in U.S. campus life. 

De Gaetano had always been interested in Thailand’s rich history and culture. While studying at Mahidol University, she immersed herself in her new environment, taking classes and exploring Salaya with friends she made in the program.  

“I was able to meet so many other international students with similar career goals as mine,” De Gaetano said.

Aspiring to become an international technology business consultant, the university’s immersive program especially helped De Gaetano prepare for a future in global communications through group projects and close collaborations with her peers. She even visited local restaurants to study different business processes for her courses and is already reaping the professional benefits of an international perspective. 

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