FSU celebrates latest cohorts of Global Citizenship Certificate Program graduates

More than 55 Florida State University students are ready to succeed in a global workforce after earning the Global Citizenship Certificate (GCC) during the 2023-2024 academic year.

Fifteen students graduated from the GCC program in Fall 2023 and 43 students graduated in Spring 2024.

Administered by the Center for Global Engagement and housed academically in the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy’s International Affairs Program, the GCC prepares students for success in international job markets with skills like critical thinking, problem solving and intercultural communication. It includes three core components: academic courses, intercultural events and a sustained international experience.

“I find great joy in recognizing the extraordinary accomplishments of our graduates,” said Bryant Harden, instructional specialist and program director for the GCC. “We not only celebrate their academic milestones but also acknowledge the commitment of these graduates to the principles of global citizenship. In the face of skepticism and intolerance, they have chosen to build bridges rather than walls, fostering connections with diverse international students, studying abroad to immerse themselves in the unknown and dedicating countless hours to enriching the lives of others through leadership and volunteering.”

In their first year in the program, students enroll in the IDS 2431 Global Perspectives course, which introduces them to the basic concepts, theories, functions and behaviors associated with intercultural communication. Students then choose three electives from more than 500 pre-approved courses with a global/cross-cultural focus, like “Multinational Financial Marketing” or “Politics of Latin America.”

“In the Global Perspectives course, students explore questions related to world dynamics, interactions and relationships from multiple perspectives in order to increase their understanding of the growing interdependence of nations and peoples, think critically about the world and develop a comparative perspective to broad cross-cultural social, economic and political perspectives,” Harden said.

A signature assignment of Global Perspectives is the Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) project with partners in Brazil. Throughout the semester, FSU students meet virtually with peers in Brazil to exchange information about the similarities and differences in culture, communication styles and approaches to intercultural conflict.

Students must also attend eight pre-approved intercultural events by choosing two from each of the following categories: social, cultural, experiential and educational. Within 10 days of attending the event, students must submit a reflection paper about their experience.

Sustained international experiences can include studying abroad, taking an internship abroad or participating in a global exchange program. The experience must be at least seven days long. Alternatively, students can partake in domestic experiences with an international focus, like internships, volunteering and peer mentorship for three days or more.

Liat Hakmon earned the GCC and graduated from FSU in Spring 2024 with a degree in political science and interdisciplinary social science. For her sustained international experience, Hakmon studied at the University of Salzburg, Austria, during the Spring 2023 semester through FSU’s Global Exchange Program.

To help fund her semester in Salzburg, Hakmon received the GCC scholarship, which is awarded to high-achieving students enrolled in the GCC and accepted to an FSU Global Exchange Program.

“I originally enrolled into the GCC because I found myself attending events such as International Coffee Hour and Global Café,” she said. “This experience has been the best opportunity I have been able to take part in during my time at FSU.”

Andrea Strickland earned the GCC and graduated from FSU with a degree in political science in Spring 2024. She fulfilled her sustained experience requirement by interning with the Haiti Grass Project, which aims to combat soil erosion in Haiti.

Strickland learned about the project during a presentation in her Global Perspectives course by the director of Better Universe and Citizens, a Tallahassee-based nonprofit that oversees the Haiti Grass Project. Captivated by the project’s goals and potential to make a difference, she decided to get involved.

“I knew that working on promoting a more sustainable environment for Haiti was something that I felt called to do,” Strickland said. “Working with my supervisor I had the opportunity to help promote the planting of perennial grasses in Haiti, which would help reduce soil erosion. This experience I would not have traded for the world, and I am so grateful that I’ve had the opportunity to work on a global cause that I’m so passionate about.”

For more information about the GCC, visit cge.fsu.edu/global-citizenship-certificate.

Graduates are listed by name, major(s) and graduation term and year:

Kate Alonso, International Affairs and Philosophy, Fall 2024

Camila Aponte, Political Science and International Affairs, Spring 2024

Grace Avvenire, Languages and Linguistics with a focus on Chinese and Japanese, Spring 2024

Harol Avila, International Affairs, Spring 2024

Abigail Archie, Political Science, Spring 2024

Payton Bolger, Cyber Criminology, Spring 2024

Sophie Barley, Asian Studies and International Affairs, Spring 2024

Youmi Chang, Public Health, Spring 2024

Shuyue Chen, Accounting and Finance, Spring 2025

Sofia Casas, International Affairs and Political Science, Spring 2027

Kailen Christian, Chemical Engineering and Economics, Spring 2024

Jacqueline Cubas, International Affairs and Spanish, Spring 2024

Jared Dasher, Political Science, Spring 2024

Duke Davis, Marketing and Management, Spring 2024

Rachael Delgado, International Affairs and Political Science, Spring 2024

Isabella DiGiorgio, Linguistics and Languages, Spring 2024

Mariana Dos Santos, International Affairs and Interdisciplinary Social Sciences, Spring 2024

Vivienne Dumas, Art History, Spring 2024

Rory Durante, Psychology and Public Relations, Spring 2024

Jacqueline Emmerich, Psychology and Criminology, Spring 2024

Abigail Ferguson, Business Management, Spring 2024

Colson Gantt, International Affairs and French, Spring 2025

Caroline Giddens, Political Science and Public Relations, Spring 2024

Emma Gurdus, Marketing and International Affairs, Spring 2024

Jiayi Guo, Statistics, Fall 2023

Liat Hakmon, Political Science and Interdisciplinary Social Science, Spring 2024

Shanaya Jaitly, Interdisciplinary Science and Environment and Society, Spring 2024

Yasmine Khabou, Behavioral Neuroscience, Spring 2024

Steph Kulenguskey, Communication Science and Disorders, Spring 2024

Ineicia Lewis, English (Literature, Media, and Culture), Summer 2024

Abigail Lynn, Psychology, Spring 2024

Danielle Maresca, Criminology, Spring 2024

Soleil Martinez, Social Work, Spring 2024

Eli McKown-Dawson, Political Science, Spring 2024

Melanie Mitchell, Behavioral Neuroscience, Spring 2026

Vanessa Murat, International Affairs, Spring 2024

Hogan Nease, Commercial Entrepreneurship, Spring 2024

Justin Nightshade, Creative Writing and Anthropology, Spring 2024

Sarah Obert, Psychology, Spring 2026

Riya Patel, Finance and Risk Management, Spring 2024

Shaheed Perez, Physics and Mathematics, Spring 2025

Kayla Reeves, History, Spring 2024

Kyle Rutter, International Affairs and Economics, Spring 2024

Sofia Severino, International Affairs, Spring 2024

Madison Sheppard, International Affairs and Political Science, Spring 2025

Sheridan Skinner, Digital Media Production, Spring 2024

Ashley Slone, Political Science, Spring 2024

Hannah Smith, Political Science, Summer 2024

Andrea Strickland, Political Science, Spring 2024

Samantha Strickland, Psychology, Spring 2024

Madison Tilton, English (Editing, Writing, and Media) and History, Spring 2024

Madeleine Trueba, Business Management, Spring 2025

Michelle Velutini, International Affairs and Political Science, Spring 2024

Elena Villamagna, Public Health, Spring 2024

Sara Weintraub, International Affairs and Political Science, Spring 2024

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