An international group that supports work-integrated education has announced multiple awards honoring Florida State University’s success in preparing students for the workforce, including an inaugural award that recognizes a member of the faculty.

The Cooperative Education & Internship Association (CEIA) will honor FSU with three awards:

• Best Practices Award – Experience Recognition Program
• Engagement Fellowship – Career Center Senior Assistant Director and InternFSU Program Manager Li Pon
• Charles Kettering Award, which recognizes an outstanding internship employer – E. & J. Gallo Winery recognizing the contributions of Amanda Bussey, an FSU alumna, former sales recruiting manager for her leadership in supporting experiential learning opportunities within the company

  

The CEIA is a leader in work-integrated learning that provides opportunities for professional development while advocating for best practices in co-ops, internships and other forms of experiential education. The awards will be presented at CEIA’s annual conference April 6-8 in Tucson, Arizona.

“It’s a privilege to acknowledge Florida State University’s enduring legacy and profound impact on the field of cooperative education and internships,” CEIA President Andrew Harper said. “I’ve witnessed firsthand FSU’s unwavering dedication to fostering high-quality work-integrated learning. Their longstanding commitment to CEIA, through board service, expert guidance and innovative presentations, has elevated work-integrated learning standards nationwide.”

CEIA’s first-ever Faculty Champion Award will recognize Associate Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Studies Joe O’Shea for his contributions to the promotion and advocacy of work-integrated learning by a member of the faculty.

“We’re honored that CEIA recognizes FSU’s commitment to enriching the student academic journey through experiential learning,” O’Shea said. “Our work at FSU wouldn’t have been possible without outstanding students, faculty and staff at the university who believe in the power of experiential education and in making engagement a possibility for every student, from every background.”

Work-integrated learning complements academic studies with practical, real-world experiences outside of the classroom such as internships, undergraduate research, community service engagement and global studies.

FSU’s commitment to work-integrated learning includes the “formative experience” graduation requirement, implemented in Summer 2019 and continuing today, which ensures that all students get a chance to learn and engage outside the classroom.

Students find opportunities to complete the requirement throughout the university, within their colleges and beyond through programs such as the Applied Politics & Policy Learning Experience, the Legislative Internship Program, classroom field experience, the sport management practicum, internships through various academic units and programs such as InternFSU and InternFSU: TLH, and production work for ESPN through Seminole Productions.

As a legislative intern, international affairs and political science double major, Sofia Casas has gotten to work directly under a Florida state senator and her legislative aide in tracking pending legislation, coordinating schedules and handling constituent services.

“This position has given me the opportunity to engage firsthand with the legislative process and apply what I have learned in my political science coursework at FSU,” said Casas, who is from Miami. “Through my experience in this internship, I have discovered I have a genuine passion for local policy and am looking forward to pursuing a career in Miami-Dade politics after graduating.”

FSU Career Center program director now president-elect of CEIA 

In addition to recognizing FSU at the upcoming awards ceremony, CEIA has named Tracey Dowling, FSU’s program director of experiential learning within the Career Center, the next president of the association.

Dowling has been instrumental in building programs such as InternFSU, which provides on-campus internships; InternFSU: TLH, which partners with companies in Tallahassee to hire student interns; FSUshadow, which connects students with one-day job shadowing opportunities; and the Part-Time Job & Internship Fair, a semesterly event that connects students with on- and off-campus jobs.

“It has been a dream come true to collaborate across campus for the last decade to reduce FSU student barriers to engagement in experiential learning,” Dowling said. “Seeing programs come to fruition — with support from academic affairs and partnerships across student affairs — and hearing students talking about them excitedly fuels motivation and innovation.”

An experienced career services professional and FSU alumna, Dowling has previously implemented services and programs at Emory University, the University of Georgia and the University of Virginia’s Semester at Sea program. She has served on the board of directors for CEIA since 2016.

“FSU’s success inspires us all to continue pushing boundaries and creating meaningful opportunities for students across the country,” CEIA President Andrew Harper said.

To learn more about FSU’s Career Center and some of the university’s work-integrated learning opportunities, visit career.fsu.edu. For more information about FSU’s Division of Undergraduate Studies, visit undergrad.fsu.edu.

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Florida State University students play a pivotal role in supporting the Tallahassee economy. But beyond their economic contributions, students also make a significant impact through community engagement and service.

During the 2022-2023 academic year, more than 4,250 FSU students dedicated nearly 236,000 hours of service, worth an estimated $7.5 million, to nonprofit organizations.

“By volunteering and giving back, students can make a real difference in the lives of others and help build a stronger, more connected community,” said Amy Hecht, vice president for Student Affairs. “Acts of service not only benefit the organization and recipients, but also instill a sense of civic responsibility and social awareness in students. Students who volunteer are nurturing their own personal growth and development, as well as helping shape the future of our community.”

Local agencies served by FSU students in recent years include The Kearney Center, Project Annie and Second Harvest of the Big Bend Food Bank.

Positive impact

As the region’s primary source for charitable food, Second Harvest provides healthy food for those facing hunger and food insecurity throughout the 16-county Big Bend service area. They say they could not accomplish their vision without the help of FSU students.

“The value that Florida State students bring to Second Harvest is immeasurable,” said Ashleigh Wilson, communications coordinator at Second Harvest. “Students at FSU often help coordinate food drives, help with our daily operations and commit to consistently serving our community directly.”

Second Harvest’s facility serves as the storage and distribution depot for more than 149 smaller frontline agency partners in their efforts to feed the hungry and educate the community about the fight to end hunger.

Kate Ash, a recent graduate from the Dedman College of Hospitality, found out about Second Harvest through a Leadership in Groups and Communities (LDR 2162) class during her sophomore year. The course is offered through the Leadership Studies program in the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences.

During her time with Second Harvest, Ash served as a volunteer and intern, even bringing in groups from her sorority to donate their time. She has helped coordinate volunteers and organized the volunteer appreciation week.

“While it can be hard for students to take the time to volunteer, it gets you outside of your bubble,” Ash said. “You’ll realize that you are not only making a positive impact on the community, but that it can make a positive impact on you.”

How students find opportunities

The Center for Leadership and Service, the campus hub for service, is charged with helping students develop skills and knowledge to become more effective leaders and engage responsibly with communities. Through various programs and resources, the center aims to foster and sustain collaborative relationships among students, the FSU campus and the broader community.

EngageTLH, one program the center offers, fosters meaningful connections between the FSU and Tallahassee communities with the goal of making service accessible for students. The program offers service trips to community partner agencies on various days and times.

Trips have addressed such needs as animal care, K-12 academic development, environmental sustainability, elder care, food insecurity and homelessness.

“Students only commit to one trip when they sign up but often return when they find a cause they are passionate about,” said Maria-Paula McIntyre, who coordinates the EngageTLH program. “Many go on to take leadership roles, guiding other students through service as trained facilitators and helping them understand the community needs their service helps alleviate.”

Last year, about 800 students went on 160 service trips to 19 local agencies through the EngageTLH program, providing an economic impact of $48,700, according to the Independent Sector’s Value of Volunteer Time Report.

Joi Phillips, director of the Center for Leadership & Service, emphasized the importance of the reciprocal relationship between FSU students and the broader community.

“We appreciate the community allowing our students the opportunity to learn from and with them,” Phillips said. “We know that experiential learning as a high-impact practice provides students with the skills to serve as leaders in their communities and to make sustainable change that lasts beyond them and their time in Tallahassee.”

The center also offers programs such as the Service Scholar program, Service Leadership Seminar and the Conversation Café that connect students with opportunities focusing on the areas of leadership, service and civic engagement.

Sophomore Hillary Harbauer has used the center’s resources to get involved. She is a part of the Service Scholar program, is a facilitator for weekly service trips through EngageTLH, serves as a community ambassador and mentors students in service leadership Engage 100 courses.

As a peer mentor through Engage 100, Harbauer facilitates classes that prepare new students to venture into service opportunities in the Tallahassee community.

“Whether we are learning about the Community Ambassadors program or EngageTLH, I support my students by sharing my experiences and sharing the insights I have learned and opportunities that I have found being a part of these programs,” Harbauer said.

She said that a large part of her undergraduate journey so far has been recognizing that there is much to be learned from those in communities different from your own: “My main driving factor is that I understand what it feels like to be overlooked based on your circumstances.”

Solving problems with research

Many FSU students choose to get involved with undergraduate research through the Center for Undergraduate Research and Academic Engagement (CRE) or pursue master’s and doctoral degrees through The Graduate School with a research focus on a particular issue. Some of these research projects grapple with issues that face the greater Tallahassee community, initiate conversations and propose collaborative possible solutions.

“Conducting community-informed research has the potential to benefit the student and the collaborating community in powerful ways,” said Latika Young, director of the CRE. “Beyond the typical research skills of design and analysis, students conducting research with and within communities practice the additional skills of networking and partnership development, self-reflexivity and communication skills, among others. These research projects often have instrumental impacts on communities by encouraging stakeholder engagement, modifying behavior and interventions and even informing policy and legislation.”

Senior Alycia Drapcho worked on the research project “GIS Analysis of Heavy Precipitation Events & Contamination in Lake Munson.” Community wastewater spills have the potential to adversely affect community health and water supplies. Drapcho utilized geographic information systems, to examine the possible spread of contaminants beyond initial spill points and the effectiveness of cleanup efforts.

“I think it means focusing on how the bigger, general issues like pollution are affecting us on a smaller, local scale and presenting that in an effort to raise awareness,” Drapcho said. “I was drawn to this project because, like I said, hearing how big issues affect us and not really being able to see it on a small scale, made me more interested to better grasp those concepts. FSU’s research facilities and connections with local researchers allowed us access to up-to-date data, as well as firsthand experiences and insights from researchers familiar with our subject matter and how it has affected the Tallahassee area.”

Camila Aponte, a recent graduate, worked on the research project “Assessing Public Participation in Redevelopment Projects: A Case Study of Tallahassee, Florida.” Her research focused on the social impact of participatory tools in neighborhoods undergoing redevelopment projects and resulted in proposed policy recommendations for future projects.

She says that the CRE and DeVoe L. Moore Center have provided her invaluable guidance throughout her research journey.

“Engaging in research with the Tallahassee community gave me insight into communities that have been impacted by local decision-making for generations,” Aponte said. “Working on this project allowed me to look at a topic that had never been explored before and having the opportunity to work and learn alongside other students, a team leader and mentor.”

Benefits of experiential learning

FSU student-service opportunities provide immense value to the community while also allowing students to gain valuable insights and have formative experiences that go beyond their time at Florida State University.

Experiential learning allows students to apply and strengthen their knowledge and skills through hands-on experiences outside the classroom. Other community engagement opportunities exist through internships, international study, creative activities and coursework.

“We’re grateful to give FSU students these unique opportunities to get outside the classroom, engage with the broader community and deepen their understanding of the issues that affect our region,” said Joe O’Shea, associate provost and dean of Undergraduate Studies. “This is the kind of work that inspires students to become the leaders of their generation and use their talents to make a lasting impact in the world.”

For more information about experiential learning opportunities at FSU, visit studentsuccess.fsu.edu.

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As vice president for Student Affairs at Florida State University, Amy Hecht is usually on campus interacting with students and overseeing a division with more than 1,000 employees.

This summer, though, Hecht fulfilled her dream of having a study abroad experience by teaching a course at the FSU London Study Centre.

“Having a global perspective is essential in educating the next generation of leaders,” Hecht said. “We live and work in a global society and having the opportunity to live in another country with a different history, culture and way of being opens a person’s eyes to new ways of thinking. It provides an appreciation and respect for differences.”

The course, Leadership and Change (LDR 3215) is an advanced undergraduate leadership course that examines the change process and prepares students to be effective in leading change. It helps students understand their unique role in leadership on campus, in their profession and within the larger global society.

“Student Affairs plays an integral part in the experience of every student at FSU, providing the resources, tools and personnel to help them make the most of the opportunities available to them,” said Kathleen Paul, director of the FSU London Study Centre. “As true in London as in Tallahassee, there are yet challenges and rewards unique to studying abroad. VP Hecht’s presence in London created the space for an experiential discussion of student life abroad and, in so doing, both deepened the relationship between DSA and International Programs and ensured that whilst the London experience remains unique, the administrative support and encouragement remains wholly Nole.”

Using London as the context and content for the course, LDR 3215 allows students to engage in hands-on, direct experiences with current British leaders and leadership issues. The class of 16 students took excursions to iconic sites like the National Portrait Gallery, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the British Museum, Churchill’s War Rooms, the Imperial War Museum, the Museum of London, Docklands, the Royal Mews and the Hinde.

“The students loved engaging with the city and museums,” Hecht said. “It was surreal to walk to work each day alongside buildings and monuments, many of which are older than the United States.”

During the first week, the class enjoyed a behind-the-scenes tour of Parliament from Right Honourable Nigel Evans, member of Parliament for the Ribble Valley and deputy speaker of the House of Commons. The class also listened to the prime minister address the House of Commons about the recent NATO meeting. Hecht’s class was connected with this tremendous opportunity by Justin Roth, an FSU alumnus (‘97) and FSU Board of Trustees member. Roth interned for Evans when he was a student at FSU London.

This experience highlighted the opportunities that alumni can offer students through their relationships and insights.

“Study abroad at its core is experiential learning,” Hecht said. “Our students are living in a new country and navigating transportation, grocery shopping, nightlife, culture and schoolwork. My course used the city as a teaching tool, and it’s something the program encourages. Why would a student want to be lectured in a classroom when they go study abroad? They want to explore and have these unique experiences that London (or Florence or Valencia) can provide.” 

Tracey Dowling is the program director for Experiential Learning at The Career Center, which is housed in the Division of Student Affairs. She also traveled to FSU London this summer to teach Experiential Learning Abroad (SDS 3940), which engages students to “try on” a professional environment through an internship abroad at the FSU London Study Centre.

Students in SDS 3940 at FSU London interned at places like Breaking Barriers, a specialist refugee employment charity, and Penta Group, a stakeholder solutions firm. The course uses a combination of site visits, museum tours and career talks from alumni to help students process their internship as a global, cross-cultural experience and to translate that experience onto their resume.

Alumni who spoke to students in SDS 3940 include Jenny Valfre (‘17, marketing), marketing coordinator, Taco Bell UK; Kate McMahon (‘19, international affairs, political science and creative writing), policy and parliamentary advocacy officer at RESULTS UK; Dana Chinitz (‘07, merchandising), talent manager for Lululemon; and Takamasa Tokuda (‘09, human resource management) head of online and technical marketing at Sony Europe.

These alumni underscored the importance of professional branding, specifically demonstrating how to highlight transferable skills through resume reviews, cover letter critiques, LinkedIn profile pointers as well as mock interviews.

“A hallmark of Florida State is our very loyal alumni base, so it was a no-brainer to reach out to those Seminoles currently living in London in order to harness their expertise in working cross-culturally,” Dowling said. “These alumni provided our students with invaluable tips on articulating their completion of an internship abroad as a differentiating experience for future career successes.”

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