Developing Global Citizens

Santa Fe College serves hundreds of military veterans each year that bring a rich set of international experiences tot he classroom. How do they continue to grow as global citizens by taking college classes or participating in student clubs? Listen to this podcast with Carmelos Brown and Charlotte Leavins to get a glimpse of how our military veteran experience college. 

Why would someone want to study biotechnology in Brazil? Does science change when conducted in another country? Do the techniques used in a lab differ in South America? Or is science simply science anywhere in the world? Join our podcast to learn what our students learned during Santa Fe's biotechnology internship in Brazil.

Campeche, Mexico is home to a large concentration of indigenous citizens and has one of the most impressive collections of Mayan archeological sites in the world. Join this podcast with Dr. Marcela Murillo and Prof. Mario Mutis as we explore the wonder, artistry, and culture of the indigenous people of Campeche.

How do different cultures express affection? How do marriage and family relations vary across the globe? How can a diverse student body help us appreciate these differences? Listen to this conversation with Dr. Georgia Bianchi, professor of sociology at Santa Fe College, to understand when and how she began observing social relations. Learn how she uses an internationalized curriculum and study abroad to help students understand our global interconnectedness. 

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day by listening to two SF faculty members explain how they are connecting their students to Ireland. Discover how ethnomathematics can be used to explore history, and cultures. Learn about the relationship between Irish literature and the American Civil Rights movement. Learn what makes Ireland unique and distinct from either English or American history and culture. Be sure to wear a little green to get the luck of the Irish. 

Dr. Li Ren-Kaplan describes her journey from the People's Republic of China to the United States. Learn how she and others at Santa Fe College have helped students learn more about Asia through the internationalization of the curriculum and study abroad. 

Celebrate Black History Month by learning about the MBK Global Scholars Program, an innovative educational program that has helped make international education and study abroad programs more accessible to African-American students at Santa Fe College. Hear from two MBK students, Jamaal Baptiste and Kevin Savoi, to learn how they have grown in their global knowledge, intercultural competence, and international experiences. 

Santa Fe College faculty have maintained a vibrant virtual and face-to-face exchange with counterparts in Orebro, Sweden for over a decade (double check this from the audio file). Join our conversation with Professor Doug Diekow and representatives from the Thoren Business School to learn more about the Swedish-Gainesville connection and how this has benefitted students over the years.

Santa Fe College graduate Abigail Dumonceau visits with Dr. Vilma Fuentes several years after graduating from SF and receiving award notice for the Boren Scholarship for study abroad funded by the National Security Education Program (NSEP).  Unfortunately, Abigail has yet to travel since the award notification due to study abroad limitations brought on by the worldwide Covid19 pandemic.

Abigail has always had an interest in international studies.At age 17, through a voluntourism trip she describes the transformative experience which she describes as an awakening, making her more genuine and authentic in her daily practice after returning to the United States. 

Abigail recalls fondly her participation in SF Student Life organizations like the Global Society club and the Model U.N. She discusses how learning to develop policy and exposure to foreign delegations, along with studying abroad in Sweden provided invaluable experiences and boosted her confidence to pursue the National Security scholarship. 

After a long wait, Abigail announces upcoming plans to return to South Africa. Now, equipped with the knowledge of the Zulu language, courtesy of the African Flagship Language Initiative Program at the University of Florida.  She hopes to utilize the trip to support her argument that natural resources are critical to national security. Combing her interests in wildlife ecology, conservation, and sociology. 

After two years study abroad programs will begin in 2023 at SF, to find out more visit sfcollege.edu/studyabroad. 

In season 4, episode 4 of Developing Global Citizens we discuss the connection between food and culture in teaching the Humanities. And several SF students and faculty talk about their personal experiences with some of the foods highlighted in the Florida Heritage Foods Initiative, www.floridaheritagefoods.com. 

The Florida Heritage Foods Initiative at Santa Fe College aims to stimulate the heritage food economy in Florida farmers' markets in partnership with Florida Organic Growers and Consumers, by providing public education about heritage foods for consumers and providing farmers' markets with tools to reach culturally diverse communities already purchasing heritage food.

Funding for the Florida Heritage Foods Initiative: Connecting Local Food with Local Culture in Florida Farmers Markets was made possible by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service through grant Agreement Number 21FMPPFL1026-00. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the USDA.