Karolina Calderin Vargas, a junior at FSU majoring in Public Health and Human Development and Family Science with a minor in Anthropology, has made the most of her time at FSU by participating in the Global Citizenship Certificate (GCC).
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Noelle Day, a senior at Florida State University, had always been curious about the world beyond the US. As a Linguistics and Languages major, she was eager to immerse herself in new cultures and languages, but the opportunity had never quite materialized—until the Spring of 2024. That’s when she took a leap and participated in FSU’s Global Exchange program, spending a semester at the University of Salzburg in Austria.
The Florida State Seminoles football team boasts a unique blend of international talent, featuring players from three continents: Alex Mastromanno, a punter from Melbourne, Australia; Sione Lolohea, a defensive end from Houma Tukulalo Vava'u, Tonga, and Manasse Itete, a lineman from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
These players each bring a broad range of skills and experiences to the Seminoles' roster and represent the rapid global growth of American football.
As FSU begins the fall semester, the campus is buzzing with excitement as over 500 new international students dive headfirst into their academic journeys. The new international students, coming from 66 different countries, bring unique perspectives and vibrant experiences that enrich the FSU campus and community. As we look forward to an exciting year ahead, it’s clear that the international students at FSU are ready to make the most of their experiences. Each one brings a unique story and set of aspirations that will contribute to the rich tapestry of campus life.
Sam Montero's Global Exchanges Journey in Italy
For many students, the allure of studying internationally is driven by a desire for adventure, new experiences and personal growth. For Sam Montero, a junior majoring in Finance and Marketing at Florida State University, the dream was even more specific: to move to Italy. This summer, her aspirations became a reality through FSU's Global Exchanges program, taking her to the charming city of Perugia and the prestigious Università per Stranieri di Perugia.
Mia Kawamitsu, a recent graduate from Iowa State University from Council Bluffs, Iowa, spent a transformative summer interning at the Center for Global Engagement (CGE) at Florida State University. With a dual major in Journalism/Mass Communication and International Studies, Mia's academic background and passion for global issues perfectly matched her role at the CGE.
The Center for Global Engagement welcomes international students from 10 international partner universities to campus each summer to experience American college life, develop multicultural competencies and improve their English skills. This summer 144 participants from Japan, S. Korea and Mexico are participating in three different ten-day sessions.
Bryant Harden, Ph.D., Program Director of the Global Citizenship Certificate (GCC) and Instructional Specialist in the Center for Global Engagement, joined the team in the summer of 2023 and has made great contributions both to the program as well as to his profession.
Margaret Clum, who recently graduated from Florida State with a degree in Marketing, completed her last semester participating in a Global Exchange program at Hanyang University in Seoul, South Korea.
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 experiences 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.