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Eddie Fordham is a public policy student at Florida State University who symbolizes what it means to make a comeback. Fordham, a formerly incarcerated student, continues to push the boundaries of academic success and research to fuel himself and his passions through academic excellence and community leadership.

Fordham is enrolled in the Honors in the Major program to pursue his undergraduate thesis “Degrees of Opportunity: Understanding Degree Completion Among Justice-Impacted College Students.” His research was awarded an IDEA Grant. He completes his research while being mentored by public policy associate teaching professor Alexandra Cockerham.

Fordham was also selected as an FSU PURPOSE Fellow, conducting research pathways oriented to social justice in education under the mentorship of assistant professor Annie Wofford, in the Higher Education program.

Fordham will be continuing his education with FSU’s Combined Pathways Program for his master’s degree in public administration. One day, he hopes to become a professor and apply his research to support returning citizens and other justice-impacted students’ success.

Outside of academics, Fordham is a founding member of the Justice-Impacted Student Organization (JISO), on the board of directors for Big Bend AFTER Reentry Coalition (A Fight to End Recidivism), a member of the Florida Foundation for Correctional Excellence Lived-Experience Council, and a member of the Omicron Delta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies.

In 2025 through Phi Kappa Phi, Fordham became one of three Pioneer Award winners at FSU.

Why did you choose Florida State University?

Criminal conviction should not be a barrier to higher education. As a formerly incarcerated student, I arrived at Florida State University with lived experience and a deep desire to turn hardship into purpose. In many ways, through its commitment to service, research and social impact, I believe it was actually FSU that chose me.

FSU not only welcomed my background, it empowered me and gave me the tools and support to transform my personal journey into leadership and academic inquiry. Here, I found not just a campus, but a community that shares my mission to expand educational access for justice-impacted individuals. FSU became the place where my story could grow into something larger than myself.

What academic achievements have you accomplished at FSU?

One of my proudest academic accomplishments was being awarded the Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. As a Cooke Scholar at FSU, I am committed to leadership and contribution, and FSU has furthered my love for research, selecting me as an Honors in the Major student to complete my undergraduate thesis and research project.

This work explores the barriers and real-life challenges that students like me face when returning to college after justice system involvement and offers evidence-based pathways to support their success. I will be gathering stories, surveying peers and studying the systems that either help or hinder our success — the data matters, but so do the people behind it and the IDEA grant and PURPOSE Fellowship I was awarded from FSU will help me build further on this project.

I also served in the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) as a research assistant to Professor Alexandra Cockerham and her study on North Carolina’s Teen Court system. I was recently accepted into FSU’s Combined Pathways Program to begin earning credit toward my master’s degree in public administration while finishing my undergraduate degree.

Every step of this unconquered journey reflects my commitment to scholarship that serves people and drives system-level change.

How do you serve the FSU community?

As a founding member of the Justice-Impacted Student Organization (JISO) — the first of its kind at FSU — I am passionate about creating a space of belonging, empowerment and advocacy for students impacted by the justice system. Through JISO, we are planning to build peer support networks, host campus events, and connect with national reform leaders to help shape student-led solutions for educational success.

Beyond campus, I serve on the board of directors for Big Bend AFTER Reentry Coalition (A Fight to End Recidivism), where we support justice-impacted individuals across the Tallahassee region through education, advocacy and reentry support. I am also a passionate advocate before the Florida Legislature on reforms that unlock higher education in prison for others. Being named an FSU PURPOSE Fellow and inducted to Omicron Delta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies reflects the broader impact of my work both in and out of the classroom.

How do you impact the community?

My work has helped ensure that justice-impacted students are seen, supported and valued at FSU. Through JISO, we have created a space where students who have experienced incarceration, directly or through family, can find belonging and community. That visibility alone can be life-changing, which is why the recognition from FSU’s Student Government is so meaningful. Last fall, the 77th Student Senate passed “The Eddie Fordham Act,” which removed a longstanding felony-conviction barrier and gives justice-impacted students a represented voice in SGA.

In the broader community, my work with the Big Bend AFTER Reentry Coalition and the Florida Foundation for Correctional Excellence has helped build reentry pathways grounded in education, dignity and long-term success. I have advocated before the Legislature, connected community partners, and shared my story to help shift public perception.

Everything I do, whether it is mentoring, research or serving others, aims to turn personal resilience into public impact. I want people in Tallahassee and beyond to see FSU as a place where transformation is not only possible, but powerfully real.

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Florida State University’s Honors Program was ranked No. 1 in Florida by the college ranking publication College Transitions, a resource for high school students and college counselors and the primary source for honors college rankings.

On its 2026 list of “50 Best Honors Colleges,” College Transitions ranked FSU No. 17 nationally among all honors colleges and programs.

While some universities offer separate honors colleges, FSU offers a comprehensive program designed to meet student needs. The program placed No. 6 among honors programs on College Transitions’ list using methodology that considers selectivity, benefits and program rigor.

“Our Honors Program has seen so much exciting growth in the past few years, thanks to President McCullough’s visionary investments,” said DeOnte Brown, dean of Undergraduate Studies. “We’re proud to offer a vibrant community that nurtures highly inquisitive students, engages them in a dynamic academic experience with their peers and prepares them for a future where they can thrive out in the world.”

The Honors Program has grown during McCullough’s tenure from about 400 per class before 2023 to more than 800 in the Fall 2025 class. It is the only Honors program in Florida that has a dedicated faculty who design Honors Signature Courses — interactive, interdisciplinary classes available exclusively to Honors students.

Ten full-time Honors faculty members offer courses on a variety of topics such as superheroes and ethics, coffee and culture in the U.S. and gaming in the ancient world.

“I’m so grateful for the dedication of our faculty and staff across campus who mentor, teach and support our remarkable students every day,” said Joe O’Shea, vice president for Student Academic Success. “We are honored to serve the brightest scholars from across Florida and elsewhere so they can thrive as leaders in their fields and strengthen the future of our communities.”

“The Honors Program at FSU was such a meaningful part of my undergraduate experience. It gave me incredible professors and engaging courses, but most importantly, an amazing community and friendships that lasted throughout my time at Florida State.”

– Hayley Schermer, FSU Honors graduate

Former Honors student Hayley Schermer, who graduated in December with a cell and molecular neuroscience degree, is working as a patient care assistant in the Neuro and Cardiac Intermediate Care Unit at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare while she prepares to start medical school in the summer.

“The Honors Program at FSU was such a meaningful part of my undergraduate experience,” Schermer said. “It gave me incredible professors and engaging courses, but most importantly, an amazing community and friendships that lasted throughout my time at Florida State.”

Students can live in Honors housing in one of two centrally located residence halls and have dedicated program advising. They have access to classrooms, study spaces, gathering areas and resources such as advising, the Office of National Fellowships and the Center for Undergraduate Research and Academic Engagement in the Honors, Scholars, and Fellows House.

More than 200 students are enrolled in Honors in the Major, an opportunity within the Honors Program that provides students from any major the chance to engage in graduate level research, either with an original thesis or creative project.

Last summer, the Honors Program debuted its new Honors Global Experiences program in London, where 15 students traveled with Honors Associate Director Michael Furman to explore the city and surrounding areas while taking the Honors Signature Course “In the Footsteps of the Ancients: Roman Britain.”

Hayden Thomas is a senior political science and economics Honors student from Tampa who is studying abroad at the FSU London Study Center and interning at a United Kingdom policy organization.

“The Honors Program gave me a community of intellectually curious student leaders who pushed me to grow academically, professionally and personally,” Thomas said. “That foundation made it possible for me to pursue transformative opportunities, including serving as president of the Honors Student Association, conducting research through Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program and Honors in the Major, and engaging in immersive professional experiences.”

To provide more opportunities for students, FSU has also doubled the size of its Presidential Scholars Program in recent years. Presidential Scholars is FSU’s premier undergraduate merit scholarship program that invests in students who stand out for their potential to be transformational leaders.

There are now 60 students admitted to each class of the Presidential Scholars Program, where students engage in a four-year sequence of learning and community engagement that focuses on four foundational tenets: wisdom, leadership, service and character.

On top of the generous scholarship funding, students in the program receive financial support for enrichment opportunities such as international study or service, internships, research and creative projects, and more.

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Raven Watkins, a dual anthropology and studio art major at Florida State University, is studying the intersection of art, academics and social impact.

Watkins immersed herself in Spanish culture at the FSU campus in Valencia, Spain, for the summer of 2024 under the Brooks Rogers scholarship. She attended the biological anthropology field school in Chelva, a region out of Valencia, where she learned the techniques of bioarchaeology by studying and cataloging a victim of the Spanish Civil War.

After her time abroad, Watkins researched under the Tyler Fellowship within the IDEA Grant program, and she is now pursuing the Global Citizenship Certification.

Inspired by her studies, Watkins’ current research focuses on telling stories of the Spanish Civil War through stop-motion animation. She promotes the importance of artists in research because they have the capability to build community and represent emotion.

Through these efforts, Watkins uniquely applies her artistic abilities in telling stories that connect people and uplift vulnerable communities.

Why did you choose to attend Florida State University?

I chose FSU over all other universities because I wanted a holistic perspective of university life with many strengths outside of the arts. For me, at the top of my list of importance was to have a broad and strong list of disciplines that create a well-rounded student body and staff. I was unsure of the path I wanted to take out of high school, so a big university with a multitude of options was ideal for me to be able to explore every avenue, and I continue to reap those benefits. 

What academic achievements have you accomplished at FSU?

My most significant academic accomplishments thus far while at FSU include my summer with FSU International Programs studying abroad in Valencia, participating at the biological anthropology field school in Chelva, Spain.  

I also stayed in The Conventual Franciscans, where St. Francis de Assisi famously founded the order of the Franciscans in the 14th century. I learned about the history of the region of Valencia, dating all the way back to its creation. This time is what inspired me on my first visit to Valencia to continue my research here, as Spain is often disregarded in the global discussion about the history of fascism. 

The Spanish song “Tatuaje,” by Concha Piquer, inspired my deep dive in this area. It highlights the cultural aspect of mourning loss while staying strong that the Spaniards exhibited during this time of history. In response to this work, I will continue my artistic research as a stop-motion animation. I’m proud to have received an IDEA Grant award to fund this work, and I will be defending the animation through Honors in the Major. 

How do you serve the FSU community?

My most significant contribution beyond the classroom at FSU has been my time working for Assistant Professor Katie Kehoe in the College of Fine Arts as an art researcher in 2024 for the engaged art initiative in Steinhatchee, Florida. I planted fruit trees and bushes for a community dedication event that honors members of the community who exemplified resilience in the wake of Hurricane Helene. It was an experience I am honored to have been a part of as someone who was greatly impacted by Hurricane Michael in my hometown of Panama City, Florida.

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Kaya Simmons, a behavioral neuroscience student at Florida State University, found classes tailored to her interests in both biology and psychology at FSU.

Simmons has been heavily involved in research through the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program, Honors in the Major and lab work.

Through her research, she looks for ways to protect the local environment while inspiring FSU students to connect with wildlife and care for their ecosystems. As president of the birding club, Simmons also partners with the university to reduce bird-window strikes on campus.

Why did you choose to attend Florida State University?

Campus is so beautiful, and the community is so welcoming, energetic and supportive. I was mainly drawn to the neuroscience program at FSU. As a student interested in both biology and psychology, the neuroscience major offered exactly what I was looking for in a degree. I have shaped my degree to align perfectly with my interests and academic goals by taking courses in everything from ornithology to physiological psychology.

The opportunities for research and formative experiences offered also drew me to FSU. Through the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program, I secured a spot in a research lab during my first semester. Through Directed Individual Study and the Honors in the Major program, I have led research projects and learned skills to prepare me for my future research aspirations.

What is an academic achievement you are proud of?

Working under Emily DuVal, I developed a new way to use machine learning to measure complex animal behavior. Our focus is the lance-tailed manakin, a small bird whose males perform coordinated dances to attract females. By automating the analysis, we save future lab members hours of work and create opportunities to ask new questions.

For my Honors in the Major project in Emily Lemmon’s lab, I study how vasotocin, a hormone that affects neural communication, changes the reproductive state in female frogs. Female reproductive behavior has important evolutionary implications, but the mechanisms behind these choices remain unclear. Much of the research has focused on males, and vasotocin’s role can vary across species. My work aims to help close these gaps.

How have you served the FSU community?

I am proud of the Spoonbill Society, FSU’s birding club and our ongoing work in surveying bird-window strikes on FSU’s campus and advocating for effective solutions.

I am the president and co-founder of the organization and have grown our membership. I hosted on-campus and off-campus birding trips and educational workshops and have engaged over 100 students with birding for the first time. Getting students outside, teaching them how to identify local birds and helping them connect with their environment has been one of the most fulfilling initiatives I have been a part of at FSU.

I am part of a team of dedicated students who survey fatal bird-window strikes on FSU campus and working toward effective solutions. Our team has been documenting bird strikes for the past two years. It’s heartbreaking but important work. Through this work, I strive to make people feel like they can make a difference.

By implementing campuswide action to reduce bird strikes, I want to inspire others to take steps to create positive change in their communities and do their part in protecting the environment. I aim to help make FSU a more bird-friendly campus and raise more awareness of issues surrounding birds and their conservation.

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Florida State University’s Office of the President and the Center for Undergraduate Research and Academic Engagement (CRE) hosted the annual President’s Showcase of Undergraduate Research Excellence on Thursday, Oct. 23. The showcase was part of FSU’s Discovery Days, a weeklong celebration of research, creative activity and discovery.  

About 900 people attended the event, where 36 students presented posters and led creative sessions to share the projects they completed during the summer with support from competitive grants and other FSU initiatives. 

“The students presenting their projects have enriched their academic journeys through directed research and creative endeavors, guided by the mentorship of some of FSU’s most distinguished faculty members,” said Latika Young, CRE director. “We extend our deepest appreciation to President Richard McCullough and Vice President for Research Stacey Patterson for their steadfast support of this event and of undergraduate research at FSU.”  

Student work represented multiple undergraduate research programs at FSU: FSU IDEA Grants, a program that funds undergraduate students’ scholarly and creative work; the Tyler Center for Global Studies, which supports a community of global scholars from 12 partner institutions coordinated by FSU; and the International Genetically Engineered Machine team (iGEM), the premier student competition in synthetic biology. 

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Madelyn Luther is a dedicated pre-law student who is committed to finding the overlap between her passions for writing, climate justice and law.

Luther is the president and editor-in-chief of the Undergraduate Law Review at Florida State University, which gives students the chance to define their legal research by publishing articles in a digital journal. She played a part in renewing the status of the Review as a Registered Student Organization in 2020.

She is also working on an undergraduate thesis project for the Honors in the Major program, in which she considers climate justice through an interdisciplinary lens.

What drew you to attend Florida State University?

I attended Florida State University because I wanted to pursue law school, and I was excited at the legal, political and civic engagement opportunities in the state capital. I participated in the Girls State program in high school at FSU, and I was captivated by the campus.

The most important factor in my decision to attend FSU was the university’s world-class programs in the humanities and social sciences. I wanted to study English, and I was passionate about writing, research and rhetoric. I could not be happier with the decision I made three years ago to attend this university. I have made invaluable connections with peers and faculty at FSU’s campus.

How have your academic experiences allowed you to explore interdisciplinary studies?

My Honors in the Major undergraduate thesis project under the guidance of Tarez Graban, an associate professor of English, honors teaching scholar and director of the Rhetoric and Composition Program in the Department of English, has allowed me to explore climate discourse from an interdisciplinary lens. I am passionate that climate change must be tackled using climate science in collaboration with climate justice, spatial justice and sustainable policymaking. My thesis allows me to consider climate justice issues from a rhetorical, ethical and decolonial lens. I have engaged with qualitative discourse analysis through my thesis project, and I will present my project at the President’s Showcase of Undergraduate Research Excellence.

How have you served your community through your work?

I am the president and editor-in-chief of the Undergraduate Law Review, which I joined in the fall of my freshman year. I started as a writer and editor, and I worked my way through higher-ranking leadership positions like secretary, vice president and executive editor. I have played a key role in the organization’s growth by marketing it across campus and innovating ways to expand our reach. The Review helped me to develop my writing, editing and legal research skills and exposed me to the Bluebook legal citation style. I have made lifelong professional connections and friends through the organization, and I look forward to its continued growth during my last semester at FSU.

Where have you seen your impact on the community?

As a member of the executive board at the Undergraduate Law Review, I have furthered the organization’s mission of bringing like-minded students across FSU’s campus together to engage in legal discourse. The Review prioritizes peer education and support rather than prestige alone, values that I champion as president and editor-in-chief. My leadership played a significant role in expanding its reach across campus, which has allowed many of my peers to engage in legal research at the undergraduate level. When I joined the organization, it had lost its Registered Student Organization status, it did not have much of a following on social media, and it did not have a website or any way that students could learn more about what it was and how to join. I spearheaded marketing initiatives that grew the Review’s following on social media, re-registered it as an RSO and promoted applications to FSU students through tabling events.

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Florida State University has named its largest cohort of Tyler Center for Global Studies Fellows, awarding nine students for their academic ambition and global curiosity. 

The award, sponsored by the national Tyler Center for Global Studies, is one of many among the Center for Undergraduate Research and Academic Engagement’s IDEA Grants program, which funds original research projects and creative endeavors for students of all majors. 

“These fellowships combine undergraduate research, global learning and mentorship,” said Latika Young, executive director of the Tyler Center. “We are proud to offer these opportunities to our fellows, who grow as researchers and global citizens while preparing for future careers.”  

Hosted and coordinated by FSU, the Tyler Center was established through a generous gift from the Tyler Foundation in 2022. The goal was to cultivate a community of global scholars who shape the future through research, innovation and collaboration.  

With FSU as the coordinating institution, the Tyler Center acts as a network of schools, connecting undergraduate students across the country with goals of pursuing research to opportunities for global inquiry. This year’s fellows traveled to countries across Europe, South America, Africa and the Caribbean, exploring topics from human rights and migration to coral reef health and art history. 

The Tyler Center will host its second annual Virtual Summit from 4-6 p.m. ET on Thursday, Nov. 20. During this online event, Tyler Fellows from each institution will present their research findings and experiences abroad with the wider Tyler Center community. Afterward, a moderated Q&A panel will invite questions from the audience. Those wishing to attend must register for the Virtual Summit by the end of the day Monday, Nov. 10. Register here.

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Annie English, a criminology and psychology student in the Florida State University Honors Program is an Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) leader, IDEA Grant recipient and Honors in the Major student. English uses her research experiences and involvement at FSU to teach and mentor fellow undergraduates about research.

As a leader in her sorority, she gives back to the FSU community by helping her fellow sorority sisters with community engagement, academic resources and finding opportunities at FSU. Through research and leadership, English’s commitment to service remains a highlight of her FSU experience.

Why did you choose to attend FSU?

From a young age, I knew I wanted to spend my life studying the criminal mind. I have encouraging parents who stopped at nothing to help me follow my dreams and foster my curiosity. In high school, when it came time to search for colleges, I discovered that FSU had one of the top criminology programs in the country. FSU quickly became my dream.

I heard stories from friends and family about the many academic opportunities that FSU had to offer, so FSU seemed like the obvious choice. I was admitted for the summer term and never looked back. I feel attending FSU was never a “choice” for me; it was always the goal.

What academic achievements are you most proud of?

I participated in UROP during my second year at FSU. I worked with a faculty mentor to conduct research about the presence of hostile men in online communities. I had the privilege of presenting our work at the Undergraduate Research Symposium in spring 2024. UROP increased my involvement at FSU and improved skills that led me to new opportunities.

After participating in UROP, I was empowered to further involve myself in undergraduate research. I am working on an Honors in the Major project on how perceptions of juvenile deviance are influenced by music genre preferences. I received an IDEA Grant to fund my research, and I am grateful for the guidance and support of so many incredible and intelligent mentors and faculty.

How have you served the FSU community?

The first significant contribution I feel I have made to FSU is my involvement in the Center for Undergraduate Research and Academic Engagement (CRE) as a UROP leader. For the past two semesters, I have taught a UROP colloquium of students eager to get involved in research at FSU.

Beyond academics, I also was selected by the executive board of my sorority, Chi Omega, to serve as the 2025 Director of Career and Personal Development (CPD). This role gives me the opportunity to assist my sisters as they navigate their undergraduate experiences. The day-to-day workload as the CPD director involves individual advising, where I help them with resume writing, LinkedIn profiles, class schedules, financial literacy and personal well-being.

Working as the CPD director has allowed me to not only learn how to help in many situations, but it has also been a reminder that spending time with others in different fields is beneficial, and that there is so much to learn.

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Historians, tasked with piecing the past together, often cross countries and oceans to access sources and better understand their topics of research.  

For Danielle Wirsansky, a doctoral student in the Department of History at Florida State University, this meant traveling to Israel to trace the experiences of female agents of Britain’s Special Operations Executive (SOE), an intelligence organization during World War II, through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program.  

“I can’t speak enough about how impactful it is for my research to actually travel and go to an archive in the country that you’re studying,” she said. “This is really a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” 

The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to increase mutual understanding between U.S. citizens and people of other countries.  

Fulbright U.S. Student Program grant recipients are selected based on academic or professional merit and demonstrated leadership potential in their fields, with the program operating in over 160 countries worldwide. 

The primary source of funding is an annual appropriation made by Congress to the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Participating governments, host institutions, corporations and foundations also provide support. 

Wirsansky initially became interested in a Fulbright fellowship after witnessing its lasting impact on the career of her doctoral adviser, Department of History Professor Emeritus Nathan Stoltzfus. Stoltzfus, formerly the Dorothy and Jonathan Rintels Professor of Holocaust Studies who taught at FSU for nearly 30 years before retiring in 2024, conducted research in Germany in 1984 through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program and still works with the same material from his own fellowship.  

“It was really incredible to see the longevity and effect a Fulbright award could have, and that it’s still the basis of the research and the career he’s built thirty-plus years on,”  Wirsansky said. 

Wirsansky already has undergraduate and master’s degrees from FSU. She first connected with Stoltzfus — and history — through the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP).  

Pursuing degrees in creative writing and theatre, she had trouble finding arts-related UROP projects and decided to join Stoltzfus’ research on the Rosenstrasse Protest, which took place between February 27 and March 6, 1943, when approximately 200 non-Jewish German women held a non-violent protest in freezing conditions outside the Rosenstrasse detention center in Berlin, demanding the release of their Jewish family members (mainly husbands) who they feared were about to be deported to concentration camps.   

Continuing to work with Stoltzfus, Wirsansky wrote a play with musical accompaniment about the Holocaust for her Honors in the Major project. She then applied for her master’s in history at FSU to establish her credentials as a historical playwright. Falling in love with research and writing along the way, she stayed for her doctoral degree to hone in on the topics of her master’s thesis, which analyzed the evolution of women’s roles in British society through the lens of female spies. 

Eager to follow in the footsteps of her adviser and establish a similar foundation in historical research, Wirsansky started preparing her Fulbright application as soon as she began her doctoral program. 

She wanted to travel to Jerusalem, Israel, to piece together the lives of female agents in the SOE, a British intelligence agency formed in 1940 to conduct espionage, sabotage and reconnaissance in German-occupied Europe during World War II. Specifically, Wirsansky’s project focuses on the opportunity to research the experience of agents who were captured and then placed into concentration camps. 

In Jerusalem, Wirsansky had special access to materials in the Yad Vashem Museum, Israel’s official memorial institution to the victims of the Holocaust.  

“This is one of the few places where I’m able to actually access deeper information for my research, so it’s been incredible to finally get my hands on these resources,” she said. “It’s going to make my dissertation so much more rich, evocative and meaningful than it would have been if I didn’t receive this opportunity.” 

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Amber Losciale is a first-generation college student dedicated to fostering safe and comfortable communities while pursuing ambitious research projects.

Losciale is a data scientist at the Leon County Sherrif’s Office (LCSO) where she helps protect the safety of Tallahassee. She has previously held positions shadowing the Wildwood Police Department (WPD) and as a crime analyst at the Tallahassee Police Department (TPD).

As a part of the Honors in the Major program (HITM), she is conducting research on the sociodemographic characteristics of sex offenders online in comparison to offline. She presented this research at the American Criminal Justice Association National Conference, where she received third place in human trafficking academic testing.

Why did you choose to attend Florida State University?

As a first-generation student I was fixated on making it out of my hometown and being able to attend university. I am grateful that I managed to become the first in my family to go to college and pick the perfect place for me when choosing FSU.

To say I love being here is an understatement; this place is my home. I am incredibly fortunate to be a cyber criminology major at one of the top criminology programs in the world. The professors in my field are not only excellent mentors but kind individuals whom I have had the opportunity to both learn from and work with. 

FSU also aligns with my passions. I was a band kid in high school, so I gravitated to the Marching Chiefs which gave me the chance to travel and make memories. I live in Traditions Hall, where I am close to the music, the school spirit and the energy that emanates from Doak Campbell Stadium. I am grateful every day I chose to be here!

What has been your most valuable academic experience?

I believe my most significant academic research accomplishment is my Honors in the Major thesis, Unpacking the Profiles of Online Sex Offenders. This research project will examine the sociodemographic characteristics that contribute to online and offline sexual exploitation and then develop typologies based on this data.

I attended the American Criminal Justice Association National Conference in Long Beach, California, where I represented FSU on the national stage in front of several criminology professors and practicing law enforcement officers. This was my first time presenting my HITM research. I got to engage in discussions about the implications of my research on policy and received 3rd place in Human Trafficking academic testing, competing out of more than 200 attendees from across the country.

Associate Professor Sylwia Piatkowska, my faculty adviser, has told me that my work has potential for publication in an academic journal, and I will work to see that through. I already see so much potential and am overjoyed to have another year to establish my legacy at FSU.

She has been instrumental in my success; without her, I would not have been able to bring these ideas to fruition. She has been an excellent mentor, and I feel like I have been able to develop so much as a leader under her tutelage.

How have you helped your community as a leader?

About halfway through college, I reached the lowest point of my life because of victimization. It shattered my sense of self, strained my ability to function and left me feeling like a statistic rather than a person. Seeking and receiving professional help through FSU’s health services facilitated my healing and transformed my understanding of strength and leadership.

This shaped how I lead and serve within my communities. As I recovered, others turned to me for guidance in navigating their mental health challenges. I helped those around me find the resources they needed. This experience has fueled my passion for cultivating safe, supportive environments within my organizations. By promoting open conversations about mental health and reinforcing the importance of vulnerability, I strive to be a leader who uplifts others and creates space for healing and growth. 

What has been your most significant impact on the community?

As a cyber criminology student, I obtained firsthand experience in my field through FSUshadow at the Wildwood Police Department, where I observed detectives lure predators through DNS lookups and decoy communications. I later began a crime analyst position at the Tallahassee Police Department, where I solved inactive cases and linked other offenders to their affiliations and associates. 

These experiences have helped me become a data scientist at the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, the most fulfilling role I have held to date. My supervisor and mentor is Dixie Rocker, a former FSU College of Criminology professor. She has helped me to build skills and create positive change. The data and policy decisions I am reviewing impact the people of Tallahassee. I am a part of a team that maintains the operational pursuits of LCSO. Knowing that my work contributes to and elicits real change is satisfying. 

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Maiya Johnson chose Florida State University for its exceptional research programs. At FSU, she has engaged in academic research and community service, highlighted by her honors thesis and leadership experience.

“I knew FSU was one of the most critically acclaimed research institutions in Florida, with students in the College of Arts and Sciences producing some of the best research in the nation,” she said.

As president of FSU’s religion club, Johnson’s leadership has provided a platform for many undergraduates to present their research, creating a collaborative and supportive academic cohort.

She is interested in continuing her education to the doctoral level. She will begin her Master of Arts in Religious Studies with a concentration in Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies at Yale Divinity School in fall 2025.

What has been a defining experience for you as a student at FSU?

One of the most defining and rewarding experiences I have had at FSU is my involvement and leadership experience in FSU’s religion club, Students Organized for Religious and Cultural Exploration (SORCE). SORCE’s mission is to provide an academic platform for undergraduate students to present their research and get involved with the Department of Religion. As the president of SORCE, I have enjoyed connecting with undergraduate students from various majors and learning about their academic journeys and interests. Typically, SORCE hosts a semesterly undergraduate symposium for students to present research they have recently conducted for a course or program, such as Honors in the Major. I am passionate about providing undergraduate research opportunities, and SORCE has been a wonderful place to exercise my passion.

What has been your most significant academic achievement at FSU?

My most significant academic accomplishment at FSU (and what I am most proud of) is my Honors in the Major project concerning the religious experiences of a subset of women in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. During the beginning stages of research for my project, I quickly realized that there was an overwhelming lack of scholarship concerning the nuances of femininity in the church.  

I received an IDEA Grant to travel to Utah over the summer to conduct research for my Honors in the Major project. I am thankful for the opportunity to conduct my own ethnographic research and get hands-on experience on what it’s like to be a researcher in the field. 

I have worked with incredible faculty in the Religion Department, who have guided my research. 

What drew you to choose Florida State University?

Since beginning my collegiate journey, I knew I wanted to continue my education to the doctoral level, and I had a particular interest in conducting personalized research. Therefore, choosing FSU became one of the easiest decisions I’ve ever made. Conducting my own research at FSU has guided my career path and my goals, helping me develop my own voice. I am grateful for the opportunities I have had to create and present research and receive feedback from professors and other professionals. All the opportunities at FSU have allowed me to pursue research that specializes in my interests and shapes my education to best fit my needs. There truly is no other place like Florida State University.

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