At Florida State University, learning extends beyond the classroom, with international experiences bringing academics to life on a global stage. 

Through international internships and other hands-on experiences, students gain practical skills, strengthen cultural competency and expand their worldview. These opportunities offer a powerful pathway for both personal and professional growth. Programs offered through the FSU Career Center, International Programs and other campus partners are just a few ways students can access opportunities tailored to their academic and career interests.  

For many, these experiences are defining moments. Across industries and continents, the following FSU students have built confidence, grown professional networks and discovered clarity in their career paths through international experiential learning.  

Aman Myrsten, France 

Aman Myrsten, a junior double majoring in French and sociology, spent eight and a half weeks in Aix-en-Provence, France, interning with a local nonprofit through CEA CAPA Education Abroad, a leading provider of international study and internship programs. 

Having previously spent the Summer 2024 semester in France through FSU’s Intensive French Program in Paris, Myrsten wanted to deepen her language skills and cultural understanding. In Aix-en-Provence, a city in southern France just north of Marseille, sheworked full time with Le Relais des Possibles, a nonprofit supporting women’s rights and domestic violence prevention.  

“Doing an international internship felt like it would be a great continuation [of my studies]— something that would be good for my resume and an incredible learning experience overall,” Myrsten said. 

CEA (Cultural Experiences Abroad) was originally founded as a study abroad organization for university students, and CAPA (The Global Education Network) is a provider focusing on global education and internships. Together, they merged to form CEA CAPAEducation Abroad, offering a combined 75 years of experience in creating academic, career and internship programs abroad.  

Through CEA CAPA, students can participate in various internships in eleven different cities across Europe and Australia, providing placements in a variety of fields from urban planning to fashion. 

In her role as an advocacy and cultural development intern, Myrsten ran workshops for mothers escaping domestic violence and delivered community outreach in underdeveloped neighborhoods. She also took a six-credit International Internship course at InstitutAmericain Universitaire (IAU), an American style university that partners with CEA CAPA and acts as a host institution for CEA CAPA internship and study abroad students.  

“I just found a lot of fulfillment in my job, and that’s something that I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to find in many settings,” Myrsten said.  

Mia Hicks, Semester at Sea 

Mia Hicks, a senior majoring in Finance, spent spring 2025 traveling the world through Semester at Sea, a study abroad program where students live and attend classes on a ship, traveling to various continents and participating in immersive cultural learning.  

Aboard the MV World Odyssey, Hicks traveled with 500 classmates to 13 countries in less than five months while taking courses ranging from psychology to international issues in recreation and tourism. While it’s not an internship, Semester at Sea gives students the unique opportunity to merge academic studies with hands on cultural experiences, demonstrating the power of immersive international learning. 

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International Programs at Florida State University has named Ed Holroyd Pearce as the new director of the FSU London Study Centre.  

Pearce, who has more than 20 years of international leadership experience in higher and international education, begins the role Monday, April 20. 

“We are excited to welcome Ed to FSU London,” said Louisa Blenman, executive director of International Programs. “His extensive experience in international education and his commitment to expanding global opportunities for students make him an outstanding fit to lead the centre into its next chapter.” 

Pearce will lead FSU London’s efforts in strategic planning, program development and academic oversight. He will work closely with faculty and staff to enhance student experiences, expand partnerships and develop academic programs, providing high quality learning opportunities for students studying abroad at FSU London.  

“FSU has clear momentum in study abroad and international collaboration, and I’m excited to work with colleagues to build on that success — delivering an even stronger experience for students and faculty, and reinforcing the university’s global standing,” Pearce said.   

Christina Carroll, associate director of International Programs, served as interim director of FSU London since 2024 after former director Kathleen Paul’s retirement. According to Blenman, her work was critical for a successful director’s search and FSU London’s sustained excellence. Carroll will continue to provide guidance and support to FSU London.  

Pearce brings more than two decades of experience in international education to the role. He is the co-founder of several successful study abroad companies, including CRCC Asia and Virtual Internship Partners. From 2012 to 2018, he served as director of Transforma Travel Group, which offers educational tours worldwide. Pearce has served as chief product officer at Learning Unleashed since 2024, where he develops edtech products designed to enhance schools’ ability to facilitate meaningful exchange experiences.  

Throughout his career, Pearce has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to expanding access to international education. Founded in 2006, CRCC Asia pairs students with award-winning global internship programs in places like Tokyo, Seoul, Shanghai and Berlin. As the company’s co-founder and director, Pearce managed study abroad operations, facilitating placements for thousands of students and developing more than 60 partnerships with universities and government programs around the globe.  

Pearce also co-founded Virtual Internship Partners in 2018 to connect educators and employers worldwide to provide access to guaranteed internship opportunities. At both Virtual Internship Partners and Learning Unleashed, Pearce expanded global internship opportunities and led the development of educational technology platforms. 

Across these roles, he has helped lead global programs serving more than 20,000 students. 

“Having worked across global education, partnerships and program development, I’ve seen what it takes to make international experiences truly effective,” Pearce said. “I’m looking forward to applying those insights at FSU London — enhancing academic quality, strengthening partnerships and ensuring students get the most out of their time abroad.” 

Pearce holds an MBA with distinction from Bayes Business School at City, University of London and an MSc in international management (merit) from SOAS, University of London. He also earned an MA in East Asian studies from the University of Cambridge. 

FSU London gives students the chance to live and learn in the heart of London’s vibrant Bloomsbury district. Within walking distance of landmarks like the British Museum, the Houses of Parliament and the West End Theatre District, the centre blends history with modern amenities, including housing, classrooms, computer labs, a library and 24/7 staff support and security. 

For more information about the FSU London Study Centre, visit the International Programs website at international.fsu.edu. To learn more about FSU’s global footprint, visit the FSU Global website at global.fsu.edu.

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A delegation from Florida State University’s Tallahassee campus recently visited the university’s regional branch campus in the Republic of Panama to strengthen collaborations, expand student opportunities and deepen academic partnerships.

FSU Panama offers four undergraduate degree programs, three of which are housed in the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy, making the college a central partner in the campus’s academic mission.

The FSU delegation included three representatives from the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy: Amanda Driscoll., the Dr. J. Elizabeth Garraway Professor and director of Undergraduate Studies for the Department of Political Science; Na’Ama Nagar, program director and teaching professor for the International Affairs program; and Ladanya Ramirez Surmeier, director of Undergraduate Studies and assistant teaching professor in the Public Health program and director of the Pepper Certified Peer Health Educator Scholarship.

Vilma Fuentes, a visiting associate in research at the Learning Systems Institute (LSI) and director of FSU’s Ukraine Task Force, was also part of the delegation.

“There is a clear opportunity for our Panama campus to serve as a hub for experiential learning and expanded academic engagement,” Nagar said. “With intentional partnerships and renewed focus, we can position the campus not just as an extension of the university, but as a strategic gateway for global impact.”

FSU has operated a campus in the Republic of Panama since 1957, when it was contracted by the U.S. government to establish an education center in the former Panama Canal Zone. The campus falls under the purview of FSU’s International Programs, which provides quality international learning environments and opportunities for students.

Throughout the visit, the group met with key stakeholders, students, alumni and academic partners to explore ways to promote collaboration between FSU Panama and the Tallahassee campus, particularly through internships, study abroad programs and alumni engagement. The visit also included meetings with Panama’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the U.S. Embassy and the United Nations, as well as a tour of the City of Knowledge facilities where FSU Panama is located. These organizations are all located near the FSU Panama campus, offering students access to hands‑on professional experience while completing their coursework.

As part of their engagement on campus, the delegation delivered a presentation to about 30 students, faculty and staff, highlighting programs within the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy and opportunities for collaboration between campuses.

Beyond the campus presentation, the delegation also participated in a meeting with Ambassador Kevin Cabrera, the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Panama, which focused on Embassy priorities and explored opportunities to connect FSU Panama with Embassy initiatives and internship pathways.

“We see impressive opportunities for enhanced scholarly exchange,” Driscoll said. “FSU Panama provides an ideal setting for international scholarly conferences and colloquia. As a multinational and multilingual crossroads of the Americas, the Republic of Panama presents minimal logistical or linguistic barriers for international participants and offers easier access for scholars traveling from Central and South America than most locations in the continental United States.”

The delegation also toured Panama City and the Panama Canal, providing context for the country’s strategic and economic significance. “FSU Panama has the potential to be a key partner for the Public Health Program,” Ramirez said. “After meeting with representatives from the UN-World Food Program and the UN-Food and Agriculture Organization, our students will be able to learn how to meet international public health needs while studying at FSU Panama. In addition, I look forward to identifying opportunities for students to work with the CDC Caribbean and Central American Regional Office.”

For more information about FSU Panama, visit panama.fsu.edu. To learn more about the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy, visit cosspp.fsu.edu. For more information about FSU’s global footprint, visit global.fsu.edu.

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Two students in Florida State University’s Forensics Program were recently named worldwide champions after competing at the International Forensics Association tournament, which took place March 8-12 in Athens, Greece.

FSU students Harleigh Demchak, a junior studying economics, and Zoey Rotenberry, a senior studying political science, won first place at the 36th Annual International Forensics Association Speech and Debate Tournament and Conference under the guidance of Avery Henry, program director and teaching faculty II in the College of Communication and Information. 

“This win fills me with pride because it is evidence of the hard work and dedication the team has put in this season,” Henry said. “In addition, it affords FSU the ability to market ourselves as international debate champions. We are the best in the world at NPDA (National Parliamentary Debate Association) style debate.” 

Forensics, a term taken from Aristotle’s classification of the types of rhetoric, is a type of judicial rhetoric with the aim of persuading a judge. Modern competitive forensics builds on this Aristotelian art by usingevidence, logic and persuasive speech to win a judge’s ballot. 

The FSU Forensics Program gives undergraduate students the opportunity to develop their communication skills through participation in one of two nationally competitive traveling squads: the speech or debate team. Students travel several weekends each semester to intercollegiate speech or debate tournaments where they can compete against fellow students and receive feedback from members of the academic community.   

“Being part of the FSU Forensics Team has solidified my decision to pursue a career in law,” Demchak said. “Participating in critical debates and engaging with complex concepts has deepened my appreciation for argumentation and research. “Overall, the experience has strengthened both my passion for the activity and my long-term academic and professional goals.” 

Throughout this season, members of the Forensics Program traveled to cities such as Portland, Las Vegas, Dallas and Nashville, in addition to competing internationally in Greece. This year the program will compete in a total of 14 domestic and international competitions. These experiences allow students to engage with peers from across the world while gaining cultural exposure. 

“Competitive forensics gives students the opportunity to travel all over, compete against some of the brightest minds, and gain cultural experiences that are not available when you are just learning in the classroom,” Henry said. 

The International Forensics Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and expanding speech and debate on a global scale. It supports students and programs by creating opportunities for international competition, collaboration and cultural exchange. Every year the International Forensics Association hosts a tournament in alternating geographic locations. In addition to competing, students are given opportunities to engage in educational and cultural activities in the host country.  

While in Athens, the team explored iconic landmarks and immersed themselves in Greece’s rich educational and intellectual history. In addition to competing, they toured sites such as the Acropolis, the Agoraand Pnyx Hill, which are widely recognized as the origins of speech and debate in the Western world. 

“The actual debate tournament and topics revolved around Greek history or Greek policy, so being able to go and absorb the culture and learn more about the history of Greece was pivotal to our success for debate rounds,” Rotenberry said. “Being able to immerse myself in the modern and ancient world of Greece was a formative and surreal experience that I will be forever grateful for.” 

Between competitions, members engage in rigorous preparation, meeting twice a week to refine valuable skills in critical thinking, public speaking and persuasive communication. Students spend months researching and debating complex global issues including nuclear policy, artificial intelligence and environmental exploration, developing a deep understanding of a range of contemporary topics. 

“Being a part of the FSU debate team has forever changed my academic goals, depth of knowledge, and even changed me as a person,” Rotenberry said. “Before joining the FSU debate team, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do.  After joining the debate team and debating policy, I finally found direction in a career and academic sense.” 

In addition to the team’s recent success in Athens, the FSU Forensics Program earned top honors at the Florida Intercollegiate Forensics Association State Championship this year, bringing home both the first place Limited Entry Sweepstakes and first place Overall Debate Sweepstakes trophies.  

“Students in competitive forensics have to gain a fluency to understanding topic areas, collecting research to be used as evidence, and then publicly test their arguments against some of the smartest students from schools all across the nation or in some cases the world,” Henry said. 

The Forensics Program’s competitive season runs from September through mid-April. The program maintains an open-door policy, welcoming students of all degrees and experience levels to get involved. Those interested in joining can reach out to team director Avery Henry or attend a team meeting, held every Tuesday and Wednesday from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in UCC 4415.  

To learn more about the College of Communication and Information, visit their website at cci.fsu.edu. For more information about FSU’s global footprint, visit the FSU Global website.  

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As a universal language, music often has the power to connect people across borders. Recent Florida State University graduate Amelia Rivers is advancing that idea in Rionegro, Colombia, where she’s using education and the arts to build intercultural community as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant. 

The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s premier international exchange initiative designed to foster mutual understanding between U.S. citizens and people around the world. Fulbright U.S. Student Program grant recipients are selected each year for their academic or professional excellence and demonstrated leadership potential in their fields, with the program operating in over 160 countries. The Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) Award places recipients directly in classrooms abroad to assist local English teachers and facilitate intercultural exchange. 

“Fulbright is an opportunity giver,” she said. “Now that Fulbright has happened, the doors have opened.” 

Rivers, who earned a master’s degree in musicology from the College of Music in 2025, has been teaching English at the Universidad Católica de Oriente (UCO) since the summer through the ETA. For her, Fulbright offers more than the chance to teach abroad —it’s also an extension of lifelong commitments to global learning and citizenship through music. 

“I love meeting new people, knowing their stories and sharing my story,” she said. “The ETA is all about that exchange.” 

As the daughter of a pilot, Rivers grew up traveling to places like China, Egypt, New Zealand and Peru with her family — an experience she refers to affectionately as “cultural whiplash.” She taught her brother how to count on the Great Wall of China and learned how to play guitar from local kids in the Andes Mountains, experiences she said primed her for a future full of global endeavors. 

“I was able to have those conversations about cultural exchange at a very young age,” she said. “It really encouraged me to become a cultural ambassador for the United States.” 

Back in the U.S., Rivers joined a traveling choir, the Spivey Hall Children’s Choir, in middle and high school, blending her love of seeing the world with her passion for music. She once performed in a choir for Pope Francis in Vatican City, an experience that she says was her “window to the world.” 

“Choir has always been a source of community building for me,” she said. 

After earning a bachelor’s degree in music arts and English from Mercer University, Rivers decided to blend these interests further and pursue a master’s degree in musicology from FSU’s College of Music. 

At FSU, Rivers engaged with other cultures through one of the nation’s largest and most comprehensive World Music Ensemble programs, where she learned and performed Andean, Brazilian and Balinese Gamelan music traditions. Her master’s thesis focused on the political significance of “joropo,” a folkloric dance genre native to the llaneros of Colombia and Venezuela. 

“I wanted to learn more about the music in the world,” she said.  

This research brought her to Bogotá, Colombia, for the first time in 2023, where she visited music libraries, interviewed joropo artists and attended the “Joropo en el Parque” (Joropo in the Park) music festival.

“I fell in love with the culture of hospitality in the community,” she said. 

Rivers had heard of Fulbright through her grandfather. He studied French medieval literature in Germany in 1962 through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, an experience that she said changed his career. 

“I’ve always felt that my grandfather and I had a kindred mind,” she said. 

As a Fulbright ETA, Rivers is responsible for hosting presentations and activities, facilitating interactions between students and helping hone their grammar skills. Tailoring her methods toward music, Rivers also plays the piano and sings in a rock band with her students, helping them learn English through songs by bands like Green Day and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. 

“We’re playing mostly American rock music because they want to practice their English, and I’m their English teacher,” she said. “There’s a big rock scene in Colombia.”  

At the other end of the exchange, Rivers is learning more about local music from the Colombian community and her peers. She’s joined two choirs during her experience — “Coro Polifónico” (polyphonic choir) at the Universidad Católica de Oriente and a professional women’s choir called “Polimnia.” Through Coro Polifónico, she’s performed at UCO’s cultural festivals and Christmas concert series and has toured across Medellín and Bogotá with Polimnia.  

“I’m trying to soak up as much as I can,” she said. “It’s been easy to plug into the local music culture because of the knowledge FSU gave me.” 

To bridge the arts with impact, Rivers has additionally been collaborating with the “Huracán de Sueños” foundation, an after-school center that brings classes and activities to vulnerable children in the area. There, she is helping to run a music program and assisting the kids with their English homework.  

“Music is the way that I interact with others in Colombia, because everybody loves music here,” she said. “It’s such an easy and fulfilling starting point for cultural exchange.” 

Rounding out her role as a cultural ambassador, Rivers is also interning with the U.S. Embassy and Education USA, which helps students in Colombia earn a college education in the U.S.  

While Rivers is not yet sure where her passions will take her following the Fulbright award, she hopes to continue riding the international wave. 

“I’ve been bitten by the Fulbright bug,” she said. 

For now, she believes that Rionegro is where she is “meant to be.” 

“I feel like I have my dream job in my dream location,” she said. “I’m still trying to convince myself that this is real.” 

Interested in applying for a Fulbright? 

Graduate students: Contact Keith McCall, assistant director of the FSU Office of Graduate Fellowships and Awards, at kmccall2@fsu.edu.  

Undergraduates and recent graduates: Contact Bonnie Garcia-Gloeckner, assistant director of the FSU Office of National Fellowships, at bjgarcia@fsu.edu. 

Faculty: Contact Peggy Wright-Cleveland, director of FSU Faculty Development, at mwrightc@fsu.edu. 

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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’s Susana Santos, the Jim Moran Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship at the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship, has been inducted as a Justin G. Longenecker Fellow of the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE) — one of the highest honors in the field of entrepreneurship.

Induction into the Longenecker Fellows recognizes individuals who have demonstrated sustained excellence in entrepreneurship education, research and service, and whose careers have made a lasting impact on the discipline. Admission is highly competitive and by nomination only, with each fellow having made sustained contributions that advance both entrepreneurship scholarship and practice.

Santos was nominated by Michael Morris of the University of Notre Dame, who highlighted her record of leadership and service to USASBE, including roles as a board member, conference chair, editor and doctoral program leader. He also underscored her scholarly contributions, particularly her research examining how entrepreneurship can help uplift communities and combat poverty through sustainable economic development.

“Dr. Santos exemplifies the spirit of the Longenecker Fellows,” said Jeff Hornsby, chair of the Fellows and professor at the University of Missouri Kansas City. “Her scholarship advances a global dialogue on the role of entrepreneurship in addressing poverty, while her leadership within USASBE has strengthened our community and helped shape the next generation of entrepreneurship scholars. She has made a lasting and meaningful impact on our field.”

Santos’ research focuses on poverty alleviation, community-level entrepreneurship and inclusive innovation, contributing to a deeper understanding of how entrepreneurial activity can serve as a mechanism for social and economic mobility. Her work has been published in leading academic journals and informs both policy and practice across diverse global contexts.

“We are incredibly proud to see Dr. Santos recognized as a Longenecker Fellow, one of the highest honors in entrepreneurship education,” said Susan Fiorito, dean of the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship. “Her dedication to research, teaching and service exemplifies the excellence of our faculty and reflects the Jim Moran College’s commitment to advancing entrepreneurship that creates real and lasting impact.”

“We are incredibly proud to see Dr. Santos recognized as a Longenecker Fellow, one of the highest honors in entrepreneurship education. Her dedication to research, teaching and service exemplifies the excellence of our faculty and reflects the Jim Moran College’s commitment to advancing entrepreneurship that creates real and lasting impact.”

– Susan Fiorito, dean of the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship

Morris reflected on Santos’ leadership within the USASBE and the impactful research she provides.

“Susana’s career has been defined by intellectual rigor and purposeful impact,” Morris added. “She is a thought leader whose work pushes us to rethink how entrepreneurship functions in contexts of poverty and disadvantage, and her leadership within USASBE has strengthened the infrastructure that supports entrepreneurship education worldwide. She is profoundly deserving of this honor.”

Santos becomes the third FSU faculty member inducted as a Longenecker Fellow. Eric Liguori, Jim Moran Professor and Associate Dean, was inducted in 2021, and Wendy Plant, retired executive director of the Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship, was inducted in 2024.

The honor further underscores FSU’s leadership in entrepreneurship education and scholarship, and the Jim Moran College’s growing influence in shaping the global conversation around entrepreneurship as a force for economic development and impact.

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Speaking in front of a packed crowd at the Florida State University College of Law Rotunda, former U.S. ambassador Mark Brzezinski offered effusive praise for FSU’s legacy in international politics while promoting the importance of global diplomacy.

Brzezinski served as the featured speaker at the fourth annual D’Alemberte & Palmer Lecture in International Human Rights. The well-attended lecture included FSU Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs James Clark giving the welcome address to a crowd that included members of the local community as well as FSU faculty, staff and students. He was followed by FSU Law Associate Professor Tahirih V. Lee, who welcomed Brzezinski and felt a connection to his work in Poland after her own grandfather emigrated from the Central European country to the United States.

Brzezinski’s presentation, “U.S. Embassies as ‘Force Multipliers’ for Democracy and Human Rights: The Case of Poland 2021-25,” described U.S. embassies as the most effective operational tools for advancing human rights. Stemming from his time as U.S. Ambassador to Poland (2021-24) and Sweden (2011-15), Brzezinski argued that embassies are positioned to advance democracy through daily, tactical engagement.

“The broad lesson is clear,” Brzezinski said. “Embassies aren’t ancillary, they’re the operational core. For half a century, they’ve done this work in context ranging from post conflict reconstruction to stable democracies.”

Brzezinski lauded former FSU President Sandy D’Alemberte (1994-2003) and the work he did with The Central European and Eurasian Law Initiative (CEELI). D’Alemberte played an essential role in creating an organization that oversaw the American Bar Association’s (ABA) programs that promoted the development of fair and open election laws in 21 countries.

“I am fortunate to have known Sandy D’Alemberte,” Brzezinski added. “He was a force of nature. Sandy was president of the American Bar Association in 1991 when the Berlin Wall was crumbling. Under Sandy’s leadership, the ABA initiated one of the most creative overseas assistance initiatives ever.”

“I am fortunate to have known Sandy D’Alemberte. He was a force of nature. Sandy was president of the American Bar Association in 1991 when the Berlin Wall was crumbling. Under Sandy’s leadership, the ABA initiated one of the most creative overseas assistance initiatives ever.”

– Mark Brzezinski, former U.S. Ambassador

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Florida State University’s Department of Classics recently celebrated a banner night at the Archaeological Institute of America’s (AIA) Annual Meeting in San Francisco.  

Nancy de Grummond, the M. Lynette Thompson Professor of Classics and Distinguished Research Professor and director of Excavations and Research at the Cetamura del Chianti archaeological site in Tuscany, was recognized with the 2026 Gold Medal Award for Distinguished Archaeological Achievement.  

Two FSU graduates and alumni of the FSU Archaeological Field School at Cetamura del Chianti were also honored at the ceremony. 

“The AIA awards dinner in San Francisco offered a snapshot of what FSU Classics is all about: a department filled with pathbreaking and influential professors who inspire excellence in their students, who in turn become pathbreaking and influential scholars, thus ensuring that the field remains at the forefront of the humanities,” said Tim Stover, chair of the Department of Classics.  

The AIA supports archaeologists, their research and its dissemination, and the ethical practice of archaeology while promoting archaeological inquiry and public understanding of the material record of the human past to foster an appreciation of cultures and shared humanity. The Gold Medal, awarded to one archaeologist each year, recognizes distinguished contributions to the discipline through research and fieldwork. It’s considered analogous to a lifetime achievement award. 

De Grummond has served as director of Excavations and Research at Cetamura since 1983, leading generations of FSU students to the site each summer. The site was discovered in 1964 by Italian archaeologist Alvaro Tracchi, and students from FSU’s Department of Classics started excavating the site in 1973 after the FSU Florence program obtained a permit from the Italian government.  

Now known as the Archaeology in Tuscany Program, FSU students live in a Chianti hill town close to the site and excavate artifacts, study stratigraphy and learn how to process their finds while taking courses examining a variety of approaches to archaeology in the field, the lab and the museum. It is administered by International Programs.  

“It is hard to describe the joy and satisfaction that comes with this kind of recognition,” de Grummond said. “In addition, the thrill of receiving the award was magnified when I found out that two of my students were sharing the podium at the ceremony. We are all so fortunate to have had the FSU International Programs and Department of Classics create the environment where our potential was nurtured.” 

Two FSU alumni were also honored at the AIA’s Annual Meeting. Melanie Godsey (B.A. ‘13) was recognized for her contributions to the book, “Households in Context: Dwelling in Ptolemaic and Roman Egypt” (Cornell University Press, 2023), which focuses on the daily lives of families in Egypt, moving beyond elite narratives. The book won the 2026 James R. Wiseman Book Award from AIA, which honors an outstanding academic book in archaeology published within the past four years that advances the field through original research and synthesis. Godsey earned her bachelor’s degree in Classical Archaeology from FSU in 2013 and is an assistant professor of Classical Studies at Trinity University in San Antonio.  

Taylor Cwikla (B.A. ‘19, M.A. ‘22) received the inaugural Gold Public Engagement Award from AIA, which recognizes members who make archaeology accessible to a broad range of non-specialist audiences. Cwikla earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Classical Archaeology from FSU and serves as a museum educator at the American School of Classical Studies in Athens, Greece, building educational resources that educators worldwide can access for free.  

During their time at FSU, Godsey and Cwikla both spent time at Cetamura. Cwikla served as a field archaeologist and research assistant in 2016 and as an excavation supervisor in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Godsey was a field archaeologist and research assistant at Cetamura in 2010 and has also worked at sites in Egypt and Greece.  

Discoveries by FSU at Cetamura have unearthed a long and diverse history that encompasses successive settlements by the Etruscans (7th-1st centuries BCE), the Romans (1st century BCE-4th century CE), and Medieval Italians (11th-12th century CE). In 2023, FSU celebrated 50 years of discoveries at Cetamura with the inauguration of the new Civic Museum at the Origins of Chianti. Located 9 kilometers from the archaeological site, the museum collection highlights the archeological discoveries at Cetamura, including Etruscan and Roman artifacts. 

“The research de Grummond has done on the material found at Cetamura has helped revolutionize our understanding of the Etruscans,” Stover said. “She has been an influential, inspirational and generous scholar, one whose work has not only changed the way we think about ancient Italy but has positively impacted the lives of countless students. Two of those students, Taylor Cwikla and Melanie Godsey, have gone on to have amazing careers, so it is no surprise that they too have been recognized by the AIA.” 

For more information about FSU’s Department of Classics, visit classics.fsu.edu. To learn more about the Archaeology in Tuscany program, visit the International Programs website.  

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