Dr. Cindy Green to Conclude Transformational Role as Director of the Center for Global Engagement

After more than two decades of visionary leadership, Cindy Green, Ed.D., will step away from Florida State University this summer following 22 years as Director of the Center for Global Engagement (CGE). During her time at FSU, Green fundamentally reshaped how FSU supports international students, fosters intercultural learning and advances campus internationalization.

Before joining FSU, Green spent 15 years at Central Washington University leading a large-scale study abroad program for students from Japan coming to Washington state. She arrived in Tallahassee on August 1, 2004, as director of what was then known as the International Center. At the time, the office was small in both size and scope, staffed by just six people and housed in a renovated former fraternity house where Traditions Hall now stands. Its primary focus was immigration advising, with limited programming and little campus wide engagement. Green was drawn to the potential for growth. “The main reason I decided to come to FSU was because the VP of Student Affairs at the time, Dr. Mary Coburn, told me I could do anything I wanted in this position after I shared some of my ideas,” Green said. Early on, her priorities included strengthening immigration advising processes, managing and expanding the exchange programs, and expanding opportunities for student connection through International Coffee Hour and other outreach programs.

Those early efforts laid the foundation for a broader vision. In 2007–2008, Green worked closely with Coburn and campus partners to establish the International Advisory Board, which set a bold goal for the university: earning the Senator Paul Simon Award for Campus Internationalization. That goal became a guiding force for many of the milestones that followed. One of the most transformative moments came in 2009 with the opening of the Global and Multicultural Engagement Building, now affectionately known as “The Globe.” “Getting this building was because Mary Coburn believed in it, and having this building changed everything,” Green said. “The programs grew, students wanted to work here, and there was room for further growth. Campus internationalization really came forward because Student Affairs recognized its importance, gave us this building and the outstanding support has continued under the VP of Student Affairs, Dr. Amy Hecht.”

The Globe became a hub for global engagement at FSU and allowed CGE programs to flourish. International Coffee Hour expanded, Global Exchange programs were further developed and strengthened, the Global Citizenship Certificate (GCC) was created, and the FSU Global website was launched, providing domestic and international students alike with meaningful intercultural learning experiences. In 2017, FSU’s longstanding commitment was formally recognized when the university received the Senator Paul Simon Award for Comprehensive Campus Internationalization, a milestone closely tied to Green’s leadership and persistence. Green later was awarded the 2023 NAFSA International Education Award for Leadership and Collaboration.

Coburn reflected on Green’s lasting impact, noting, “From the first time I met Cindy, I knew that she was going to elevate what was then called the International Center. Her vision, experience and enthusiasm were apparent. FSU is indebted to Cindy for expanding services to international students and scholars while expanding opportunities for American students and faculty.”

Colleagues consistently highlight both Green’s strategic leadership and her deep care for individual students. Global Exchanges Program Director, Leigh Ann Bauer, described Green as “an exemplary leader of large-scale institutional change who never lost sight of the people behind the process”, while Data and Compliance Program Director, Jocelyn Vaughn, emphasized that Green redefined internationalization at FSU by centering engagement on campus, not only abroad. “Cindy has been the lynchpin of internationalization at FSU,” Vaughn said. “Our name, the Center for Global Engagement, reflects one of her core beliefs: that internationalization is about engaging with the world and other cultures right here on campus.”

Others point to Green’s mentorship and steady presence. CGE IT Manager Amado Cruz noted that her institutional knowledge and attention to detail were invaluable, while Program Director of CGE Special Programs Rob Hughes recalled how a welcoming phone call during his interview led to more than 12 years of meaningful collaboration. “It’s been an amazing journey,” he said, “and I’ve learned so much from her and have thoroughly enjoyed working together to serve students from all over the world.”

As she prepares to step away, Green remains focused on the future of CGE. “I hope that the CGE will continue to thrive and serve not only international students in immigration, but that the programs will continue to grow,” she said. “I would really like to see the Global Exchange programs grow, and to continue our social, cultural, and educational events.”

Through vision, dedication and an unwavering commitment to students, Cindy Green helped transform FSU into a more globally engaged campus. Her impact will continue to shape the university for years to come, and she will be greatly missed by her CGE and FSU family upon her retirement this summer.