Florida State University is reaffirming its position as one of the nation’s premier public universities, earning strong rankings from U.S. News & World Report, TIME and Niche.  

FSU placed highly in each of the three publications’ latest rankings, released over the past month.   

“Rankings may change from year to year or vary by publication, but Florida State’s commitment to excellence is constant,” said FSU President Richard McCullough. “Our university continues to break records year after year and reach new heights in student success, academic quality, and research funding and expenditures. That momentum reflects the extraordinary dedication of our faculty, staff and students, and it gives us tremendous confidence in Florida State’s future. We are clearly one of America’s top public universities.”  

On Tuesday, U.S. News & World Report released its “Best Colleges 2027” guidebook, ranking Florida State among the nation’s top 25 public universities for the eighth consecutive year. FSU placed No. 24 among public universities. 

In the latest report by U.S. News, Florida State climbed to No. 5 among all public universities nationally for First-Year Experiences, a reflection of its 97% first-year retention rate. FSU also excelled among all public institutions in several new categories, ranking No. 7 for Best Value for In-State Students, No. 7 for Study Abroad and No. 13 for Most Innovative Schools.  

Earlier this fall, Niche ranked Florida State No. 12 among national public universities, using verifiable data from the U.S. Department of Education along with reviews and ratings from current students, alumni and parents. Niche also ranked FSU No. 46 on its list of 2027 Best Research Universities in America, improving four spots from last year. 

Last month, FSU ranked No. 17 among public universities in TIME’s inaugural America’s Best Colleges list, which emphasizes student outcomes and the value of a college education. 

Student success is FSU’s No. 1 goal

The strong rankings reflect the momentum Florida State has built in key measures of student success. Most recently, the university achieved a record four-year graduation rate of 82%, the highest in State University System history and four percentage points above last year’s record. FSU’s Office of Institutional Research projects the new rate would place the university in a tie with the University of Michigan at No. 7 among public universities nationally. 

Along with its record four-year graduation rate, FSU maintained its record six-year graduation rate and achieved a new milestone for transfer-student success, setting a record graduation rate for students from the Florida College System. 

Demand for a Florida State education continues to reach new heights. Nearly 97,000 students applied for admission for fall 2026, representing a 233% increase over the past decade. The university welcomed approximately 6,000 freshmen from one of the most competitive applicant pools in its history. The admitted class boasts an average high school GPA of 4.5, average SAT and ACT scores of 1430 and 32, respectively, and 92% graduated in the top 10% of their high school classes. Twenty-five percent are first-generation college students.  

“Students choose Florida State because of the quality of our academic programs and the opportunities available to them here,” said Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Jim Clark. “They stay and graduate because of the experience they have once they arrive. We have built a culture that combines academic excellence with strong student support, helping more students achieve their goals and earn their degrees on time.” 

What changed in U.S. News?

This year, U.S. News revised its methodology and removed student debt from its formula. Student affordability remains a top priority for FSU, which ranks among the nation’s best public research universities for graduating students with little or no debt.  

Under the new calculation, FSU’s ranking among national public universities dropped three spots despite gains across all previously measured metrics, including first-year retention rate, six-year graduation rate and the six-year Pell recipient graduation rate.  

“Our responsibility is not to chase rankings but to create one of the nation’s best educational experiences,” McCullough said. “That means continuing to invest in outstanding faculty, innovative academic programs and the resources that help students succeed from enrollment through graduation. If we remain focused on those goals, the results will follow.” 

FSU shines in undergraduate program rankings

FSU ranked No. 36 among all undergraduate business programs at public schools in U.S. News’ 2027 Best Colleges rankings. The Herbert Wertheim College of Business’ Dr. William T. Hold/The Alliance’s Program in Risk Management and Insurance ranked No. 3 among the nation’s top public and private RMI programs. 

The Wertheim College’s Real Estate Program moved up three spots to No. 3 among public universities and No. 6 overall, with the Dr. Persis E. Rockwood School of Marketing maintaining its No. 18 spot among public universities. 

 “These high marks reflect the transformative education our students receive from an exceptional faculty who, supported by our dedicated staff, alumni and industry partners, inspire students daily to reach their full potential,” said Michael D. Hartline, dean of the Wertheim College of Business. “Our hope is that all Wertheim College students will graduate with the knowledge, skills and confidence to lead in their chosen fields and to make a meaningful impact in the global marketplace.” 

New this year, U.S. News ranked entrepreneurship programs. The Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship’s undergraduate program ranked No. 13 among public universities and No. 39 overall on the publication’s inaugural list.  

“The Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship is honored to be counted among the nation’s very best undergraduate programs,” said Michael Brady, interim dean of the Moran College. “This achievement reflects the extraordinary talent and drive of the faculty, staff and students who continue to strengthen our entrepreneurial community, and it wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of The Jim Moran Foundation and our devoted alumni.” 

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Florida State University will welcome bestselling author and commentator David Brooks to campus Sept. 10 for a conversation with President Richard McCullough exploring character, leadership and how people can engage thoughtfully across differences. 

Hosted by FSU’s Institute for Governance and Civics, the event will begin at 6 p.m. at Ruby Diamond Concert Hall. 

Brooks has spent decades writing about American life, institutions, relationships and the qualities that shape individuals and communities. The author of books including “The Road to Character” and “How to Know a Person,” Brooks joined The Atlantic as a staff writer earlier this year and serves as Yale University’s inaugural presidential senior fellow. 

For McCullough, bringing Brooks to FSU grew out of hearing him speak at a gathering of university presidents. McCullough said he was struck by Brooks’ perspective on higher education, including its challenges, opportunities and role in society. 

“I was just completely blown away and fascinated by his take on higher education,” McCullough said. “I thought it was a very fair perspective. It was not political. It wasn’t right or left. It was just, as a public intellectual, his assessment of what we had done.” 

McCullough said Brooks’ focus on character and values also resonated with his own ideas about leadership. 

“I’m just fascinated by that sort of intellectual life of leadership,” McCullough said. “I feel like David has such a brilliant perspective on leadership and what it takes to lead with character.” 

After hearing Brooks speak, McCullough returned to FSU and approached Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Jim Clark about bringing him to campus. Clark, who was already familiar with Brooks’ work, helped lead the effort to make the visit happen. 

“I’m just fascinated by that sort of intellectual life of leadership. I feel like David has such a brilliant perspective on leadership and what it takes to lead with character.”

– FSU President Richard McCullough

Ryan Owens, director of the Institute for Governance and Civics, said the event also gives students a chance to see what thoughtful conversation about difficult subjects can look like. 

“I think it’s important for students to see leadership behind efforts like this,” Owens said. “I think to have two very important, prominent individuals up there talking about that problem and talking about things that we can do to improve on it is an incredibly useful model for students to see, to observe and to follow.” 

That kind of open exchange is an important part of IGC’s work. Owens said the institute’s research shows students overwhelmingly want opportunities to have free-flowing discussions about a range of issues, even as many worry that their peers may not welcome differing views. 

Events such as the Brooks conversation can help demonstrate that students can encounter ideas that challenge them while still engaging with one another respectfully, Owens said. 

“We talk about changing the culture of things so that people believe in a free market of conversation, a free market of ideas, openness, and are willing to discuss and engage with ideas that may or may not be comfortable to you,” Owens said. “That’s all part of the endeavor that we’re trying to do at the IGC and at FSU.” 

Brooks began his journalism career as a police reporter in Chicago and later spent nearly a decade at The Wall Street Journal, including as a foreign correspondent and editor. He went on to help launch The Weekly Standard and became a familiar presence on “PBS NewsHour.” 

In early 2026, Brooks left The New York Times after 22 years as an opinion columnist and joined The Atlantic as a staff writer. He also became Yale’s first presidential senior fellow, a five-year appointment that includes lectures and conversations examining questions about meaning, community and institutions. 

McCullough said he hopes students take advantage of the opportunity to hear Brooks in person, describing him as a “master storyteller.” 

“I hope the students will not miss the opportunity to be in Ruby Diamond to hear this,” McCullough said. “I hope that it will be standing room only, because this is a kind of once-in-a-lifetime thing to hear somebody like this speak.” 

DAVID BROOKS AT FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY 

THURSDAY, SEPT. 10, 2026 

6 p.m.  | DOORS OPEN AT 5 p.m. 

RUBY DIAMOND CONCERT HALL

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 

ADVANCED REGISTRATION IS ENCOURAGED 

Media planning to attend are encouraged to confirm attendance. To arrange an interview, contact annmaries@themooreagency.com.

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Throughout his career, John Barnhill has felt called to do one thing: help people.

Barnhill joined Florida State’s academic admissions team in December 1978 and has supported thousands of students as they made one of the most important decisions of their lives. After 48 years at FSU, a funny thing has started to happen: Some of the students he’s meeting look very familiar.

“I’m serving the children of students that I admitted,” Barnhill said. “That’s special.”

Barnhill’s path toward enrollment management began at Florida Southern College. There, he worked as a resident assistant and gave admissions tours while pursuing a degree in psychology. He then enrolled at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology with plans to become a minister but later changed course.

After two years working in admissions at Andrew College in Cuthbert, Georgia, Barnhill came to FSU, where he earned a Master of Science in history and philosophy of education while working full time in the admissions office and spreading what he calls the “gospel of education.”

As he settled into Florida State, Barnhill came to appreciate the nurturing environment the university creates for students. “It fit with exactly what I wanted to do,” he said, “which is to help people.”

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Florida State University has launched the FSU Humanities Center within the College of Arts and Sciences, establishing an interdisciplinary hub to advance humanities research and expand the field’s visibility across the university and beyond.

Led by its founding director, John Corrigan, the Lucius Moody Bristol Distinguished Professor of Religion and Professor of History, the center aims to encourage collaboration and innovation by exploring questions about the historical, intellectual and cultural dimensions of the human experience. It will also help prepare students for careers in fields including law, education, writing, communications and public service.

“The Humanities Center reflects the legacy of FSU’s commitment to the advancement of the humanities,” said FSU President Richard McCullough. “I am especially grateful to John Corrigan for his leadership in bringing this center to life and to Provost Jim Clark and College of Arts and Sciences Dean Sam Huckaba for their commitment to making this a reality. We are creating new opportunities for faculty, students, staff and the community to collaborate, pursue important research and further strengthen the humanities at FSU.”

Affiliated units include FSU’s Departments of Classics, English, History, Modern Languages and Linguistics, Philosophy and Religion in the College of Arts and Sciences; Art History and Theatre and Performance Research in the College of Fine Arts; and the Musicology program along with Music Theory and Composition in the College of Music. The center will support four FSU faculty fellows, six dissertation fellows pursuing doctoral degrees from FSU humanities departments, 15 undergraduate fellows pursuing honors theses or other humanities research projects, and four postdoctoral fellows serving two-year residencies.

Researchers in the FSU Humanities Center will unite their efforts around a central theme that runs on a two-year cycle. The theme for 2026-2027 is “The Human in the Humanities,” which explores what it means to be human amid the rise of artificial intelligence and the discoveries of neuroscience and genetics, and what ethical behavior and the “good life” look like in this new technological era. The fellows’ collaborative work may result in books, exhibitions, reports, extended articles, websites or other public expressions of their research.

“Establishing this center has long been a goal of our faculty members, and it will showcase the research excellence and scholarly productivity of FSU’s humanities programs.”

— Sam Huckaba, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences

“Establishing this center has long been a goal of our faculty members, and it will showcase the research excellence and scholarly productivity of FSU’s humanities programs,” Huckaba said. “I appreciate the efforts of the Humanities Center Task Force in developing this bold proposal and President McCullough and Provost Jim Clark for their support in turning it into reality.”

The new center is also a member of the Consortium of Humanities Centers and Institutes, a global forum that supports hundreds of humanities centers and institutes through advocacy, funding opportunities and fostering collaboration. Membership connects FSU faculty and students with a network of humanities scholars and provides opportunities for partnerships and engagement with other humanities centers and institutes around the world.

“The Humanities Center rests on the premise that good things happen when people from different disciplines share their ideas about what it means to be human,” Corrigan said. “Our vision is to create a place where researchers in the humanities at FSU, as well as the public, can engage in interdisciplinary conversation and equally find ways to strengthen their expertise in their areas of study.”

By partnering with university, cultural, social and governmental organizations, the center also aims to expand its work beyond campus. It will host a series of lectures and events open to the public throughout the academic year, culminating in an annual international conference in February that explores the current theme. The conference will feature a keynote address by Blair LM Kelley, the president and director of the National Humanities Center, a nonprofit institute founded in 1978 with the mission of supporting scholars whose work helps expand knowledge and shape our understanding of the world we inhabit.

“It is a great time for the humanities to increase their visibility and emphasize the career paths open for those in this field ­— from roles like journalists, teachers, government and NGO employees, and consultants, to lawyers, business entrepreneurs, public relations professionals and more,” Corrigan said. “At the same time, the humanities will continue to do what they have always done, which is to prompt students to think creatively and critically about who they are, what the human is, and what it means to be a good citizen, friend and person.”

To learn more about the FSU Humanities Center, visit humanities.fsu.edu.

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Florida State University has reached a new milestone in student success, with a record 82% of its students graduating in four years, the highest four-year graduation rate ever achieved in the State University System of Florida. 

The new four-year graduation rate represents a four-percentage-point jump from last year’s record of 78%. Using the most recent publicly available data, FSU’s Office of Institutional Research projects the new rate would tie the University of Michigan at No. 7 among public universities nationally. 

FSU also maintained its record six-year graduation rate and set a new record for the graduation rate of students who transfer to the university from the Florida College System. 

“An 82% four-year graduation rate is an extraordinary achievement and a new record for FSU and the State University System of Florida,” said FSU President Richard McCullough. “We have been very intentional about investing in student success, from advising and academic support to scholarships and other resources that help students stay on track. I could not be prouder of our students or the faculty and staff whose commitment to them has made FSU one of the very best public universities in the country.” 

“An 82% four-year graduation rate is an extraordinary achievement and a new record for FSU and the State University System of Florida. We have been very intentional about investing in student success, from advising and academic support to scholarships and other resources that help students stay on track. I could not be prouder of our students or the faculty and staff whose commitment to them has made FSU one of the very best public universities in the country.” 

– FSU President Richard McCullough

FSU’s four-year graduation rate has climbed nine percentage points in five years, from 73% in 2021 to a record 82% today. 

Graduating students on time has become a hallmark of FSU’s focus on student success. Finishing a degree in four years allows students to enter the workforce or pursue graduate education sooner while avoiding the additional costs associated with extra semesters in college. 

FSU maintained its six-year graduation rate of 86%, which continues to be a university record. 

Transfer students are setting records as well. FSU’s three-year graduation rate for students who transfer with an associate in arts degree from a Florida College System institution reached a record of nearly 85%, the highest in the State University System of Florida. 

The new transfer rate builds on a record 80% rate last year and reflects FSU’s growing emphasis on helping transfer students make a smooth transition to the university and stay on track toward graduation. 

“I’m deeply grateful to all the faculty and staff across FSU who work to provide a world-class education to our students,” said Joe O’Shea, vice president for Student Academic Success. “This remarkable new record reflects our university-wide commitment to academic excellence and holistic student support, shown through our investments in advising, teaching, scholarships and programming that help students reach their full potential.”

FSU’s student success strategy relies on a culture of data engagement, where faculty and staff leverage advanced analytics to track student progress continuously across campus and identify early signs that a student may be at risk of falling behind. That information helps university leaders target investments that can help students stay on track to graduate in four years. 

Nearly a decade ago, FSU established the Graduation Planning and Strategies Office, which has improved graduation efficiency and helps students overcome barriers to graduation through its completion campaign. In 2022, this effort earned the Outstanding Advising Program Award from the National Academic Advising Association. 

McCullough created the Office of the Vice President for Student Academic Success in 2025 to bring together and strengthen efforts to recruit, retain and graduate an accomplished student body. 

The latest graduation numbers add to a series of record-setting student success measures at Florida State. The university has achieved a 97% first-year retention rate, placing it among the top four public universities nationally. 

The results also come as demand for an FSU education reaches an all-time high. Florida State received nearly 97,000 applications for its fall 2026 freshman class, the largest applicant pool in university history. 

FSU’s record graduation rates, high student retention and record demand reflect the university’s continued gains in student success and its growing standing among the nation’s leading public universities. 

“Our goal is not simply to bring outstanding students to Florida State,” McCullough said. “It is to give them an outstanding education and help them graduate ready to lead, serve and succeed. Our graduation rate says something powerful about the experience we are providing, and we’re not done yet.” 

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Florida State University brought its approach to artificial intelligence in teaching and learning to national higher education conversations this summer, including back-to-back gatherings at Google’s North American headquarters in New York City.

Paul Marty, professor in the School of Information within the College of Communication and Information and associate vice provost for Academic Innovation, represented FSU at Google’s gatherings as well as leadership workshops with the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU).

“When other public universities look at what FSU is accomplishing — from our data-driven campus culture to our deeply engaged faculty, staff and students — they see a path forward,” Marty said. “We are proving that a top public research university can lead the nation in adopting disruptive innovations while keeping student learning and the public good at the center of everything we do.”

FSU is part of Google’s AI for Education Accelerator program and a Gemini for Education partner. The accelerator provides students and educators with AI tools designed to support productivity, personalized learning and prepare students for a technology-driven workforce.

Students can use Gemini for Education to support inquiry-based learning, brainstorm projects and explore complex concepts in a university-managed environment.

Marty spent a week at Google’s facility at St. John’s Terminal headquarters, participating in two AI gatherings focused on Gemini and the future of higher education: the Google GSV Higher Ed Leader Fellowship and the Google Higher Ed Leader Series Conference.

Marty is a member of the 2026 cohort of Google GSV Higher Ed Leader Fellows, a group of 30 academic leaders selected from across North America. The fellows meet monthly to examine how AI is reshaping postsecondary education and met recently in New York for a two-day summit.

“We may be there ostensibly to talk about AI in higher education, but what we’re really talking about is the future of higher education,” said Marty. “Generative AI is prompting us to really buckle down and answer core questions about the value proposition of higher ed — for example, how can we move away from transactional relationships and reposition higher education as a public good where students engage in meaningful, transformative learning experiences.”

Following the fellowship, Marty attended Google’s annual Higher Ed Leader Series Conference, which brings together university presidents, provosts and chancellors to discuss AI integration and higher education strategy.

During the Higher Ed Leader Series, Google showcased a feature video about how Florida State University faculty and students are integrating Gemini Notebook (formerly NotebookLM) into coursework. Filmed on FSU’s Tallahassee campus, it features Chief Information Officer Jonathan Fozard and examples of AI use across disciplines.

During the conference, Marty demonstrated an FSU classroom notebook for higher education leaders, featuring a custom thermodynamics notebook created by Ralm Ricarte, an assistant professor of chemical engineering in the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. Ricarte built the notebook with lecture notes, course materials and problem sets from his Introduction to Thermodynamics course, giving students an AI study tool grounded in materials from the class.

“When it comes to AI in education, it’s important to remember that the person who does the work does the learning,” Marty noted. “If all a student does is copy and paste, they aren’t learning. But when used properly, these tools can act like an extremely well-read digital assistant available 24/7. As educators, we can show students how to harness that capability ethically to become better learners.”

Gemini Notebook restricts its answers strictly to user-uploaded sources, providing precise citations for every response. Students can use course materials to create study guides, practice quizzes, video overviews and audio overviews. FSU faculty and academic support staff have found that these kinds of interactive learning tools help boost classroom participation.

FSU’s Academic Center for Excellence (ACE) Learning Studio also hosts regular workshops that teach students how to use AI tools responsibly and effectively as part of their learning.

“FSU’s Academic Center for Excellence (ACE) helps students integrate innovative AI tools into their weekly study and test preparation routines while maintaining responsible and ethical learning strategies,” said ACE Director Holly Hunt. “Through our ‘Using AI Tools to Help You Study’ workshops and Gemini Notebook drop-in hours, Study Skills Tutors and STEM Student Specialists aid students in synthesizing course content, building personalized study guides and organizing class materials. Our goal is to teach students how to incorporate foundational learning strategies with FSU-supported AI tools to reach academic success.”

For more information about AI at FSU, visit ai.fsu.edu. To learn more about the services available for FSU faculty, staff and students, visit its.fsu.edu.

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For 175 years, generations of students have come to Florida State University and its predecessor institutions for an education and the opportunities that come with it.

Those generations include the first students to pursue public higher education in Florida, young women attending Florida State College for Women when access to higher education was limited, veterans returning from World War II and first-generation students charting a new path for themselves and their families.

Today, FSU is one of the nation’s top public universities, drawing record numbers of highly accomplished students while continuing a long tradition of expanding opportunity.

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Florida State University Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Jim Clark has appointed Mike Brady interim dean of the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship, effective immediately.

Brady, who currently serves as assistant provost, the Bob Sasser Professor of Marketing in the Herbert Wertheim College of Business, and FSU’s faculty athletics representative, succeeds founding Dean Susan Fiorito, who has returned to the faculty.

“Dr. Brady is a proven administrator, an internationally recognized scholar and a committed member of the Florida State community,” Clark said. “His experience in academic leadership, along with his commitment to students and research, positions him well to lead the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship during this transition.”

“Dr. Brady is a proven administrator, an internationally recognized scholar and a committed member of the Florida State community. His experience in academic leadership, along with his commitment to students and research, positions him well to lead the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship during this transition.”

– Jim Clark, Florida State University Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

A two-time FSU alumnus, Brady earned his bachelor’s degree in marketing in 1991 and his Ph.D. in 1997. His research focuses on customer satisfaction, employee interactions and service marketing and has earned more than 38,000 academic citations. He has held leadership roles with the American Marketing Association, including vice president of publications and board chair, and served as editor-in-chief of the Journal of Service Research.

Brady has been recognized for teaching and mentorship at FSU, including the University Graduate Student Mentoring Award and the William R. Jones Award for Mentoring Minority Doctoral Students. A former FSU baseball player, he also spent several years playing professionally in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization.

Fiorito led the unit from its start as the Jim Moran School of Entrepreneurship in 2016 through its designation as the nation’s first stand-alone College of Entrepreneurship in 2019.

During her tenure, Fiorito expanded entrepreneurship education at Florida State, supported interdisciplinary programs and helped build spaces for student creators and business founders.

“We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to founding Dean Susan Fiorito,” Clark said. “Her vision and leadership helped establish the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship and created a strong foundation for the college’s future.”

Brady expressed gratitude for the opportunity to guide the college forward.

“It is an honor to serve as interim dean of the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship,” Brady said. “Dean Fiorito has built a strong college with dedicated faculty, staff and students. I look forward to working with them to continue advancing entrepreneurship at FSU.”

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Fresh off defeating Stanford to win the 2025 National Championship, the Florida State University Women’s Soccer team proved that elite execution starts with smart strategy. Celebrating on the field, trophy in hand, Head Coach Brian Pensky shared the secret behind their title run with FSU Provost Jim Clark: “You know how we won? We out-thought them.”

That game-winning mindset took center stage at the Turnbull Conference Center during FSU’s second annual Data Day Conference.

Hosted by the Office of Institutional Research and sponsored by the Office of the Provost, the daylong event brought together more than 250 faculty, staff, researchers and professionals to explore how data powers success across the university.

“One of the things I appreciate most about Data Day is that it brings together people from every corner of the university,” said FSU Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Jim Clark. “Faculty, administrators, analysts, researchers and technology professionals each bring a different perspective, but we share a common goal: using data to better serve our students, strengthen our institution and advance our mission.”

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This summer, Florida State University will welcome scholars from India’s top research institutions to Tallahassee through a new initiative designed to spark international collaboration, accelerate innovation and expand FSU’s global research partnerships. 

The inaugural Visiting Scholars Partnership Program (VSPP) is designed to strengthen high-impact, research-and innovation-centered partnerships with leading universities around the world. The pilot program, which takes place July 5-31, will bring scholars from four highly ranked international institutions to FSU’s Tallahassee campus for exploratory research collaborations.  

During their stay, each visiting scholar will be paired with FSU faculty aligned with their expertise and desire to build international partnerships. Visiting scholars will explore FSU’s world-class facilities, meet administrators across multiple departments and engage in rich, one-on-one collaboration with their faculty peers several times each week. 

Housed in the Office of the Provost, the initiative receives strategic oversight from the Office for Strategic Initiatives and Innovation and is implemented by the Learning Systems Institute (LSI), which conducts research and develops evidence-based interventions to improve individual and organizational performance. 

“Florida State University believes some of the most meaningful breakthroughs happen when scholars from different backgrounds and perspectives come together to exchange ideas,” said Jim Clark, provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs. “The Visiting Scholars Partnership Program creates opportunities for collaboration that strengthen research, expand global partnerships and enrich the academic experience for our entire university community.” 

“The Visiting Scholars Partnership Program creates opportunities for collaboration that strengthen research, expand global partnerships and enrich the academic experience for our entire university community.”

— Jim Clark, FSU provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs 

The initiative was spearheaded by Farrukh Alvi, senior associate provost for Strategic Initiatives and Innovation and the Don Fuqua Eminent Scholar and Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the FAMU–FSU College of Engineering.

“The program is designed to create opportunities for researchers to explore new ideas, identify complementary strengths and develop partnerships around shared areas of interest,” Alvi said. “We hope these collaborations will lead to impactful, lasting research relationships and new opportunities for innovation across disciplines.” 

The VSPP will provide a structured, immersive experience that supports collaborative research, innovation exchange and the development of long-term institutional partnerships. Collaborations will span fields including aerospace engineering, biomedical engineering, quantum optics, entrepreneurship and advanced materials research. 

“At Florida State University, we recognize that research and higher education are increasingly global in nature,” said Steve McDowell, assistant provost for International Initiatives. “The Visiting Scholars Partnership Program reflects FSU’s continued investment in international engagement and global research partnerships to serve the people of Florida.” 

“The Visiting Scholars Partnership Program reflects FSU’s continued investment in international engagement and global research partnerships to serve the people of Florida.”

— Steve McDowell, FSU assistant provost for International Initiatives

Vilma Fuentes, director of FSU’s Ukraine Task Force and a visiting associate in research at LSI, will serve as inaugural program director of the VSPP.  

“This program provides an exciting opportunity to connect scholars from some of the best universities in the world with faculty and departments across our great university,” Fuentes said. “We anticipate these exchanges will lead to new research partnerships, expanded academic engagement and future opportunities that benefit both FSU and our international partners.” 

India is home to some of the world’s fastest-growing research and technology institutions, making the partnerships especially valuable for future global collaboration. Participating partner institutions include the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras), Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur), Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi), and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc).  

The partner institutions rank among the world’s leading universities for engineering, science and technology research in the QS World University Rankings. The QS World University Rankings is one of the most comprehensive assessments of its kind, offering an independent comparison of top universities worldwide based on academic excellence, employability, research impact and internationalization. 

“At LSI, we believe innovation happens when people with different expertise and perspectives come together to solve complex challenges,” said Rabieh Razzouk, director of LSI. “The Visiting Scholars Partnership Program creates an environment where those collaborations can grow, benefiting not only our institutions, but also the broader communities and systems our work is intended to serve.” 

Summer 2026 VSPP pairings include:  

• Wei Guo, Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, FAMU–FSU College of Engineering, with Bhaskar Kanseri, Professor, Quantum Optics Physics, IIT Delhi
• Bill Lickson, Professor, Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship, and Pradeep Bhide, Professor, FSU College of Medicine, with Amit Mehndiratta, Professor, Biomedical Engineering, IIT Delhi  
• Farrukh Alvi, Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, FAMU–FSU College of Engineering, with Tufan Kumar Guha, Assistant Professor, Aerospace Engineering, IIT Kanpur, and Debopam Das, Professor, Aerospace Engineering, IIT Kanpur  
• Unnikrishnan Nair, Associate Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, FAMU–FSU College of Engineering, with Rajesh Ranjan, Associate Professor, Aerospace Engineering, IIT Kanpur  
• Rajan Kumar, Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, FAMU–FSU College of Engineering, with Mohammed Ibrahim Sugarno, Associate Professor, Aerospace Engineering, IIT Kanpur  
• William Oates, Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, FAMU–FSU College of Engineering, with Nidish Narayanaa Balaji, Assistant Professor, Aerospace Engineering, IIT Madras  
• Tristan Driscoll, Assistant Professor, Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, FAMU–FSU College of Engineering, with Namrata Gundiah, Professor, Mechanical Engineering, IISc  
• Zhiyong (Richard) Liang, Professor, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, FAMU–FSU College of Engineering; Tarik Dickens, Professor and Interim Associate Chair, Materials Science and Engineering Department, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering; and Raghav Gnanasambandam, Assistant Professor, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, with Prosenjit Das, Assistant Professor, Materials Engineering, IISc

Cultural activities will also be arranged to give participants a deeper understanding of American culture, society and the surrounding environment. In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States, activities will include locations listed on the America250FL Road Trip Map. 

In addition to advancing scientific understanding and knowledge exchange, these partnerships are expected to lead to joint research proposals, co-authored publications, shared data, complementary use of resources and new interdisciplinary initiatives. Organizers hope the program will serve as a foundation for sustained international collaboration and future faculty and student exchange opportunities at scale. 

Visit the Visiting Scholars Partnership Program website to learn more about VSPP. For more information about LSI, visit lsi.fsu.edu. To learn more about FSU’s global footprint, visit global.fsu.edu.

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Florida State University’s education and educational research program ranks No. 25 globally, No. 2 among public universities in the United States and No. 1 in Florida in the 2026-27 Best Global Universities rankings released by U.S. News & World Report.

Florida State also ranked among the world’s top 100 institutions in psychiatry and psychology (No. 80), social sciences and public health (No. 89) and arts and humanities (No. 92).

The rankings evaluate more than 2,250 universities in more than 100 countries based on academic research performance and global and regional research reputation. The methodology emphasizes factors such as publications, citations and international collaboration.

“These rankings across crucial professions and disciplines reflect the quality of our faculty and the impact of their scholarship,” said Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Jim Clark. “The recognition earned by our education program, along with strong performances in psychology, the social sciences and the humanities, demonstrates the public value proposition of the academic excellence across Florida State University.”

FSU’s performance reflects the university’s continued growth as a leading research institution. The university recorded a record $488 million in research expenditures, a 50 percent increase since 2021, and surpassed $1.2 billion in research funding proposals in 2025.

U.S. News uses data from Clarivate’s Web of Science Core Collection and InCites Benchmarking & Analytics to evaluate universities. The Best Global Universities rankings focus primarily on institutions’ research performance and scholarly impact rather than undergraduate education.

For more information and the complete rankings, visit the U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities website.

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