International Programs

Goulash, garnets, and gelato. This past summer, I had the opportunity to participate in the Prague Study Abroad trip associated with the College of Social Work. By far, the five weeks I spent in the Czech Republic (and other surrounding countries) were some of my most memorable times as a Florida State student. From making new friends, to trying new foods, to experiencing a new culture, to attending class in a foreign country, every day abroad was an adventure.

“I love traveling and have always had a spirit for adventuring. In addition, I always dreamed of traveling to Australia one day,” Mary Green said when reflecting on her decision to pursue a study abroad opportunity in  Australia.

Mary described her four and half months in at Griffith University in Gold Coast, Australia as life-changing. From February through June of 2018, she experienced life as an Australian college student taking four social work courses. 

International Programs at the FSU College of Social Work began with efforts of one faculty member, Patricia (Pat) Lager (MSW, 1983, BA 1967). Pat transitioned from work in the areas of mental health and child welfare education, teaching at Florida A&M University before being hired by [then] Dean Ray Bardill. “I graduated from FSU, so I’ve always loved this university and the College of Social Work. It’s a passionate program,” Pat related about taking on her first academic role at FSU as a part-time field faculty placing students in their internships.

Florida State University recently met with a delegation from East China University of Science and Technology in an effort to forge a relationship for future research collaboration and student exchanges.

The partnership was initiated by FSU College of Social Work Dean Jim Clark and Professor Amy Ai, who have extensive experience with Chinese scholars in health, trauma and social work.

This year was marked by abundant opportunities for FSU College of Social Work to make new international connections and to develop collaborations on the world stage. Faculty teamed up with partnering universities and colleagues at leading universities from other continents to bring about innovative scholarship, training, and dialogue. Here are some of the highlights of the FSU social work faculty’s efforts in 2017 all over the globe.

Robert F. Kennedy once said, “Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of injustice and resistance.”

This past July, I attended and presented at the 35th International Congress on Law and Mental Health. Leading experts from around the world in psychiatry, nursing, social work, psychology, law and other helping professions, convened from July 9-14th at Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic to share their ideas about today’s most pressing issues at the intersection of mental health and law.

This fall, the FSU College of Social Work will welcome a new addition to its faculty, Dr. John Mathias. A recent graduate of the University of Michigan with a joint doctoral degree in anthropology and social work, his research focuses on qualitative studies of community organizations, advocacy, and non-profit management.

Five Florida State University faculty members are fanning out across the globe to teach and conduct research in Russia, Finland, Ireland, Hong Kong and the Czech Republic through grants from the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program.

“If too many of you fall asleep, I will stop talking and leave the podium. In fact, if you close your eyes I will take that to mean that you are letting me know that I should end my presentation immediately” joked Associate Professor Dr. Tomi Gomory, in his keynote address at an international conference held April 7-8, 2017.