Florida State University’s Information Technology Services highlighted strategy, innovation and partnerships April 7 during the 2026 ITS Spring Town Hall and RISE Together Showcase, a daylong event highlighting how technology is accelerating the university’s academic, research and service missions. 

Hosted at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center and the Augustus B. Turnbull III Florida State Conference Center, the event brought together hundreds of ITS staff, faculty, students and university leadership for institution-wide updates and hands-on demonstrations of emerging technologies. 

During the morning town hall, Jim Clark, FSU provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs; Stacey Patterson, vice president for research; and Jeremy Slaga, FSU’s vice president and chief clinical operations officer, told attendees that Florida State University’s rise into the nation’s top 25 public universities was driven not only by ambition, but also by the people and systems supporting that growth. 

“I am thrilled to be in the top 25 public universities in the United States — it’s an incredible achievement,” Clark said. “But our focus today is to talk about the role you all play in helping us thrive and become even more excellent in the years ahead.” 

Clark said that success became possible only when the pursuit of national prominence evolved into a coordinated effort supported by aligned systems, infrastructure and service. 

“These are the teams that are making that happen,” said Jonathan Fozard, associate vice president and chief information officer. “These are the teams that are helping support the students, faculty and staff achieve our collective goals and aspirations for this amazing university.” 

Slaga highlighted Florida State’s expanding health and research initiatives. 

“FSU Health has an opportunity to serve as a vehicle — a backboard — that allows all of these amazing components to plug in,” Slaga said, emphasizing the need for standardized systems and shared data to support collaboration. 

Patterson provided an update on ASPIRE, or A Strategic Plan to Inspire Research Excellence, emphasizing people, partnerships, infrastructure and excellence as the four pillars of the plan.  

“When we talk about infrastructure, it’s not just buildings,” Patterson said. “It’s the processes and the systems behind the operations. None of us can do what we do without all of you.” 

Patterson noted that Florida State has more than doubled its number of National Academy members in the past year and a half, a key measure of research prominence and that a strong digital infrastructure and service support are essential to recruiting and retaining elite faculty. 

After the conversation with university leadership, Fozard emphasized that ITS’s greatest strength is its people. He outlined plans to invest in skill growth, foster trust and psychological safety to support innovation, and continue the shift from a ticket-based service model to a trusted strategic partner across campus. 

While the morning town hall focused on strategy and alignment, the afternoon RISE Together Showcase was designed to promote collaboration, highlight projects and drive technological innovation across the university. 

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

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

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

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

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

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Florida State University recognized international and domestic participants of the Fulbright Program during a reception Tuesday, Nov. 18, at the Longmire Building. 

Founded in 1946, the Fulbright Program is one of the most widely recognized international academic exchange programs. It aims to increase mutual understanding and support friendly and peaceful relations between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. The U.S. government currently partners with more than 160 countries worldwide. 

FSU has participated in the Fulbright Program since 1951 and has been among the nation’s top producers of both faculty and student awards in recent years. The U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs recognized Florida State as a top-producing institution of U.S. Fulbright Scholars earlier this year.  

For the 2025-2026 cycle, three current and former FSU students earned scholarships through the prestigious Fulbright U.S. Student Program to conduct research in the U.K., Colombia and Argentina. In addition, four FSU faculty members will travel to teach and conduct research abroad through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program in Ireland, Taiwan, Hungary and India.  

On campus, 13 foreign students and scholars from places like Indonesia, Armenia and Uruguay are currently studying or conducting research at FSU through the Foreign Fulbright Program. Twelve students are here through the Fulbright Foreign Student Program, and one researcher is here through the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program. 

Steve McDowell, FSU’s assistant provost for International Initiatives, presided over the event. FSU Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs James Clark delivered welcoming remarks.  

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Florida State University began a new collaboration among faculty and staff with its first-ever Data Day, a one-day conference hosted by the Office of Institutional Research and sponsored by the Office of the Provost.

The new event provided attendees with insightful talks, hands-on workshops and networking opportunities, empowering participants with data literacy and strategies to harness its transformative power.

“FSU Data Day is more than just a conference; it’s a declaration of intent,” said Associate Vice Provost and Chief Data and Analytics Officer James Hunt. “We are here because we believe in a bold vision to make Florida State University the most data-engaged campus in the country — and that means more than just producing reports or tracking metrics. It means creating a culture where data is trusted, used and shared. Where it sparks insights, drives collaboration and ultimately helps us serve our students and our community better.”

FSU Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Jim Clark emphasized the power that data brings in fostering collaboration and innovation by bridging institutions and driving meaningful partnerships, as reflected in the attendance of key stakeholders at the conference, including representatives from the Florida Board of Governors, Florida A&M University and Tallahassee State College.

“The great part about data is that it allows us to have partnerships and relationships across universities because when you’re working at this level, it’s not politics, it’s not ideology, it’s about understanding what’s going on in the world and understanding what’s going on at institutions,” Clark said.

With 20 workshops, talks and discussions to choose from, participants spent the day exploring how data is reshaping strategic priorities and improving operational efficiency across the university.

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Florida State University’s Gus A. Stavros Center for the Advancement of Free Enterprise and Economic Education is expanding Unconquered by Debt, a financial wellness program that enhances financial literacy and transforms decision making so that students become wealth creators, thanks to new support from the Office of the Provost.

Unconquered by Debt, or UBD, promotes balanced financial choices through free workshops to help students fully understand how to be responsible for their current and future lifestyles.

“Investment by the university in the Stavros Center, spearheaded by Provost James Clark, will enable this transformative initiative to expand its financial wellness and financial literacy efforts in powerful ways,” said Tim Chapin, dean of FSU’s College of Social Sciences and Public Policy where the center and program are housed. “President Richard McCullough and the provost have spoken of the need to minimize student debt, and the work of the Stavros Center is central to Florida State University’s efforts.”

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An internationally acclaimed psychologist with an influential track record of research, teaching and service has been named Florida State University’s 2025-2026 Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor.

Pamela Keel, Distinguished Research Professor in the Department of Psychology, has been recognized by FSU faculty members with the highest honor they can bestow upon one of their own. She is the fifth psychologist to receive the honor since the award’s inception in 1957.

“Pamela Keel’s impressive and undeniable impact on mental health research sets her apart as a researcher and scholar, but it’s her equal dedication to teaching and service that exemplify what it means to be a professor,” said FSU President Richard McCullough. “Her work reflects the best of what we strive for as a university — research that changes lives, service that strengthens community and a commitment to lifting others along the way. We’re proud to have her join the high ranks of Florida State University’s Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professors.”

Keel, who has been at FSU for more than 16 years, was thrilled when President McCullough called to share the good news.

“Joining this community of outstanding faculty at Florida State University is an incredible honor,” she said. “I believe in universities as institutions for growth and innovation. Florida State University fulfills this mission by supporting faculty focusing on problems where getting the answers will make a difference in somebody’s life.”

Keel, an expert on eating disorders and body image, has significantly influenced the field of clinical psychology. Her work has led to the recognition of purging disorder as a distinct condition in the Fifth Edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), impacting the lives of millions globally.

“Pam is an incredible scholar and teacher who serves the university well in the community,” said Jim Clark, provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs. “She’s also a wonderful person and peer who cares a lot about her fellow professors, her department, her college and Florida State University. I couldn’t be more thrilled for her and proud that she is this year’s Lawton Professor.”

“One of the things that I’ve observed is that whenever I’ve received an award, there’s this little moment where you’re humbled by the appreciation, combined with this sense of, ‘I need to keep earning this recognition I received.’ The award inspires commitment to strive for the best I am capable of doing.”

– Pamela Keel, 2025-2026 Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor

Keel joined FSU’s psychology department as a professor in December 2008 and was promoted to Distinguished Research Professor 10 years later. From 2013-2016, Keel led the department’s APA-accredited Clinical Psychology program, helping to attract significant federal funding to FSU.

She has been principal investigator on new external grants exceeding $20 million in funding to FSU, not including her role as co-principal investigator on the initial $15 million Military Suicide Research Consortium and its $20 million competitive renewal. Collectively, her total funding at FSU amounts to over $55 million.

“I have connected with many talented scholars over my 34-year academic career and have found myself awed in a few cases by how much a particular person has managed to achieve in the course of a career,” Christopher J. Patrick, Distinguished Research Professor and director of Clinical Training in the Department of Psychology, wrote in his faculty nomination letter. “Some individuals seem born for scholarly work and pursue it with a special gusto that sets them apart – in terms of exceptional brilliance and creative vigor as well as results. Dr. Keel is one such person.”

Highly regarded in her field, Keel was elected a fellow of the Academy of Eating Disorders (2006), Association for Psychological Science (2013), American Psychological Association (2014), a member of the Academy of Science Engineering and Medicine of Florida (ASEMFL) (2023) and received the Leadership Award for Research from the Academy of Eating Disorders in 2019.

“Professor Keel is a world-renowned scholar in the field of eating disorders,” Janet Kistner, vice president for Faculty Development and Advancement and professor of psychology, wrote in her letter of support. “By any metric used to index scholarly contributions, she tops the charts. She has achieved the highest levels of distinction in her field of study, she is an award-winning teacher and mentor, and her services to the university and her academic discipline are outstanding. In every way, Professor Keel epitomizes the qualities and accomplishments expected of a Lawton Professor.”

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Florida State University recently welcomed faculty and teaching assistants across campus to the second annual Provost’s Showcase of Scholarly Teaching. Hosted by the Center for the Advancement of Teaching (CAT) in collaboration with FSU Libraries, the event celebrated the innovative and evidence-informed teaching practices that continue to make FSU a leader in student-centered education.

Building on the success of last year’s inaugural event, the 2025 showcase highlighted the efforts of FSU’s teaching community, bringing renewed attention to building student success and enhancing students’ learning experiences both in classrooms and online.

“The showcase is an important opportunity to share, and to honor, the amazing work FSU faculty are doing in their teaching,” said Leslie Richardson, director of the CAT. “I really admire their scholarly approach, where they gather evidence of how their methods work, get feedback and make adjustments — and I think the generous spirit of teaching here is just as important. Faculty are sharing their strategies talking about what works, what they want to change, what they really want to achieve, so that all of us can learn together and create the best possible learning experiences for our students. It’s very inspiring.”

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In early August, Florida State University’s Ukraine Task Force welcomed nine senior higher education leaders from Ukraine to learn how universities and community colleges can serve military veterans, people with disabilities and other vulnerable populations.

The Ukrainian delegation spent 10 days meeting with senior administrators, deans, professors and staff at FSU. They met with FSU President Richard McCullough, Provost Jim Clark, FSU Libraries, the Student Veterans Center and numerous other campus leaders and departments. The visit was made possible in part by funding from the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv.

“We had a terrific meeting with the president and vice president of FSU,” said Svitlana Kretovych, a member of the delegation representing the Office of the President of Ukraine. “We discussed our problems and how Florida State University could help us. It was really impressive.”

The group discussed ways FSU serves military veterans and how higher education can be a tool for diplomacy.

“We had the opportunity to meet with the president of Florida State and also the provost,” said Roman Dadak, acting head of the Association of Colleges and director of the National Forestry and Wood-Technology University of Ukraine. “It was a great honor to have this meeting.”

Eight of the nine officials had visited Tallahassee before through the Community College Administrator Program (CCAP) in 2016 and 2018.

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, the CCAP is a program of study for administrators from post-secondary vocational and technical institutions in foreign countries to see how institutions meet the local workforce demand of their communities through innovative educational programs. It is administered by the Learning Systems Institute (LSI) at FSU in partnership with Santa Fe College.

During their visit, the group toured the FSU Student Veterans Center, which provides programs and services designed to enhance the retention, graduation, and career-placement rates of student veterans, active military students and veteran/military dependents.

“One of the biggest challenges this country will face is how to serve military veterans, most of whom can only be demobilized now if they have acquired a major physical injury such as the loss of a limb,” said Vilma Fuentes, program director of FSU’s Ukraine Task Force.

The delegation also visited the Office of Veterans and Military Success Services at Santa Fe College in Gainesville and met with Santa Fe College President Paul Broadie II and Santa Fe Provost Nate Southerland. The guidance will help Ukrainian higher education officials determine the best way to serve the more than 1 million active-duty military members fighting to defend their country from Russian aggression.

“FSU and Santa Fe College, the two institutions that implemented the CCAP, have much to share,” Fuentes said. “They have distinguished themselves in the state and the nation for the high level of service they provide to American veterans.”

“The creation of a veteran center is needed in Ukraine because of the war with Russia,” said Kretovych. “After the war, it will be very important in the process of rebuilding Ukraine.”

Other key meetings centered on mental health and serving students with disabilities. Angi Yoder-Maia, director of the Resilience Institute for Strength and Empowerment (RISE) at FSU, held a session on healing-centered education. The group also visited The Career Center at FSU. On their final day in Tallahassee, they met with Amber Wagner, assistant dean of the Department of Student Support and Transitions and director of the Office of Accessibility Services.

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Florida State University Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Jim Clark has appointed Louisa Blenman as interim director of International Programs.

Blenman succeeds Jim Pitts, who retired June 30 after a distinguished 56-year career at Florida State.

“International Programs is a great point of pride for the university, and I deeply appreciate Lou Blenman for her leadership as we continue to provide incredible study abroad opportunities and global experiential learning experiences for our students,” Clark said.

As interim director, Blenman will build upon 30 years of experience and expertise in international education. She has worked for FSU International Programs since 2004 and served as associate director since 2018. She also currently serves on the boards of charities and foundations associated with each FSU international study center and the FSU International Programs Association Direct Support Organization.

“I very much look forward to building on the solid foundation and successes of International Programs as we work toward complementing our current outstanding education abroad opportunities with new approaches to programs abroad,” Blenman said. “I am also pleased to work with Provost Clark and other campus leaders to explore how IP can support other university priorities. I am grateful to be in this position at a time of so much enthusiasm for global initiatives.”

Before International Programs, Blenman spent a decade working in study abroad in London after completing a prestigious internship at the Fulbright Commission.

Blenman is a two-time graduate of FSU. She earned a Master’s in Higher Education from the College of Education (now the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences) in 1994 and an MBA from the College of Business in 2012.

To learn more about International Programs, visit international.fsu.edu.

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Florida State University’s Ukraine Task Force (UTF) hosted Andrii Paziuk, a professor of international and comparative law at the National Aviation University in Kyiv, Ukraine, on campus June 6-12. The goal of the visit was to connect with colleagues, establish relationships for future collaborations and discuss future opportunities for students in Ukraine.

Paziuk specializes in cybersecurity, technology and human rights law and has been a legal adviser to the Government of Ukraine for the past 15 years. He currently advises the Ministry of Digital Transformation, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the National Security and Defense Council.

Established in 2022, the UTF was initially created to forge partnerships between FSU and Ukrainian scholars and to educate the FSU community about Ukraine. It falls under the purview of the Learning Systems Institute (LSI), which focuses on how individuals and organizations perform complex tasks and how to help them achieve their performance goals.

Researchers at LSI are currently working on projects in Malawi, Egypt, Rwanda and Zambia.

“This program provides opportunities for Florida State University and for counterparts to exchange and collaborate on research projects and enrich each other with knowledge, skills and shared experiences,” Paziuk said.

As director of FSU’s UTF, Vilma Fuentes is responsible for facilitating connections between Ukrainian universities and FSU faculty through LSI. She organized Paziuk’s visit.

“Dr. Paziuk is engaged in practical, cutting-edge work that explores the intersection between law, technology and international relations,” Fuentes said. “His visit has provided us with an opportunity to see how different parts of the university can collaborate more robustly with each other and with Ukrainian academics.”

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Florida State University Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Jim Clark visited the FSU London Study Centre earlier this semester to see the facilities and meet with students, faculty and staff.

Engagement with FSU’s study centers abroad is a priority to Clark, who also delivered the commencement address at FSU’s branch campus in the Republic of Panama last fall.

“FSU’s study centers in London, Florence and Valencia, as well as the branch campus in the Republic of Panama, provide students with amazing opportunities to live and study in bustling and culturally rich cities,” Clark said. “They also give faculty the chance to teach abroad and immerse themselves in foreign cultures. It was great to see the FSU London Study Centre firsthand after hearing about so many life-changing experiences there.”

FSU’s first study abroad program in London took place in 1971, but students didn’t stay at the London Study Centre until after it was purchased in 1992. Located in the heart of the historic Bloomsbury district, the FSU London Study Centre is within walking distance of many historic and cultural sites, such as the National Gallery and Buckingham Palace. Programs are offered year-round including the unique First Year Abroad program and the Theatre Academy London program.

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Florida State University’s Center for the Advancement of Teaching (CAT) and University Libraries hosted the inaugural Provost’s Showcase of Scholarly Teaching Friday, April 5. The event provided faculty with an opportunity to share their expertise and innovations with the larger campus community.

The FSU-based mini-conference was open to all faculty members at FSU or the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering and offered opportunities to learn more about innovative teaching practices through roundtable discussions and poster sessions.

“The showcase is an opportunity for faculty to share the exciting work they’re doing in their classes to provide great learning experiences for our students,” said Leslie Richardson, director of CAT. “They use research-informed strategies, and the work they ask students to do provides evidence of learning and the effectiveness of their teaching methods.”

Faculty presenters came from various disciplines and departments, including computer science, mathematics, engineering, education, communication and public health.

Brittany Kraft, a faculty member in the Department of Biological Science, presented her research on the efficacy of “cheat sheets” as an exam-studying practice.

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