Miu Itakura, a sophomore from Waseda University in Japan, embarked on a journey to Florida State University (FSU) as part of the Global Exchange program. With a major in Political Science and Economics, Miu sought not only to expand her academic horizons but also to immerse herself in new cultures and ideas that the United States had to offer.

"I wanted to feel diversity in the United States. I also wanted to study politics in the United States, which has a great influence on the world both historically and currently," Miu explains, reflecting on her decision to study abroad.

Nadia Rassech has been named a 2024 recipient of the Center for Global Engagement’s Global Citizen Award, which honors outstanding students who have actively engaged in intercultural initiatives on campus or abroad and who have exemplified leadership in promoting and supporting a global community among Florida State University students.  

Yeimy Roberto has been named a 2024 recipient of the Center for Global Engagement’s Global Citizen Award, which honors outstanding students who have actively engaged in intercultural initiatives on campus or abroad and who have exemplified leadership in promoting and supporting a global community among Florida State University students.  

Hilal Ayan-Karabatman is an international student from Turkey pursuing her Ph.D. in Instructional Systems and Learning Technologies. After doing plenty of research on what university to attend for her doctorate, Hilal decided to come to FSU for many reasons. “The Instructional Systems and Learning Technologies program at FSU is ranked among the top in the fields of instructional design and educational technology and is well-known for its research, strong alumni network, and being home to pioneers in my field,” she said.

Jyuji Nakashima, an exchange student from Waseda University, is completing his academic year program at FSU. Waseda University offers many options to its outbound exchange students, but he chose FSU primarily due to the climate. “Unlike other parts of Florida, it has an extremely cold winter,” said Jyuji. I personally enjoy the shifts of the season, so I immediately decided to apply.”

In a celebration of academic achievement and global citizenship, two students, Megan Cooper and Chanti (Marie-Chantal) Max, have been awarded $750 scholarships from the Global Citizenship Certificate (GCC) program to help offset the costs of participating in Global Exchange programs this spring. These competitive scholarships are awarded to two outstanding students per semester who are enrolled in the Global Citizenship Program and are participating in a Global Exchange program to meet their international experience requirement. 

Andrea Strickland, a senior majoring in Political Science with a Pre-Law track, is making waves in her community by spearheading fundraising efforts for the Haiti Grass Project. Her involvement showcases the power of grassroots initiatives and the impact that determined individuals can have on global issues.

Anna Bernatt, a senior majoring in Chinese and Japanese, is participating in a Global Exchange program in Taiwan for the 2023-24 academic year, and Rylan Eichem, a junior majoring in International Affairs, is there for the Fall 2023 semester. Through the FSU Global Exchange Program, both Anna and Rylan are attending the National Chengchi University in Taipei City, Taiwan. During their time in Taiwan, both students have had culturally enriching learning opportunities.