Florida State University College of Social Sciences & Public Policy

Graduates, families, faculty, and staff gathered in the Bellamy Atrium on Friday, December 13, to celebrate the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy’s newest graduates.

Graduates enjoyed a come-and-go reception on Commencement morning from 10 p.m. to 12 p.m., with light refreshments, a small congratulatory gift, and the opportunity to take professional cap-and-gown photos and connect with our Alumni Engagement Coordinator, Elizabeth Jones.

To read the full story and access the full album, visitcosspp.fsu.edu/fall-2024-graduation-celebration.

Twenty-five Florida State University students were awarded the Global Citizenship Certificate (GCC), including nine students who completed the certificate with honors, during a ceremony Friday, Dec. 6, in The Globe Auditorium.

The certificate program prepares students to succeed in the global workforce by helping them develop global and intercultural fluency, which helps them adapt to different environments, as well as critical thinking, problem-solving and intercultural communication skills.

To read the full story, visit
news.fsu.edu/news/fsuglobal/2024/12/11/fsu-celebrates-latest-cohort-of-global-citizens

Congratulations, Fall Grads! Today’s the day!

Join us until noon in Bellamy for a celebration with our faculty and staff!

Grab a gift, get a photo, and enjoy some sweet treats!

Mark your calendars for the next COSSPP Faculty and Staff Photo Day in Spring 2025 on Wednesday, January 22 and Thursday, January 23, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Communications Ground Floor Studio (Bellamy 042). Photos are taken on a walk-in basis.

On Wednesday, there will be studio and outside backgrounds offered. On Thursday, only the studio background will be offered, so be sure to come on Wednesday if you want outdoor photos!

To read more and take a look at previous photo day headshots, visit cosspp.fsu.edu/spring-2025-cosspp-faculty-staff-photo-day.

Two Florida State University sociology professors Michael McFarland, Ph.D., and Mathew Hauer, Ph.D., are part of a research group that led a groundbreaking and widely-covered study on the negative effects of lead in gasoline that resulted in millions of psychiatric disorders over the past 75 years.

Published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry on December 4, Dr. McFarland and Dr. Hauer joined members from Duke University and the Medical University of South Carolina in the expansive study. The results were eye-opening – as many as 151 million cases of mental health disorders have occurred over the past 75 years due to the effects of lead in gasoline.

To read the full story, visit news.fsu.edu/news/science-technology/2024/12/06/two-fsu-professors-part-of-widespread-national-coverage-on-lead-exposure-study.

We are excited to see our students succeed!

To learn more about the Global Citizenship Certificate, please visit the Center for FSU Center for Global Engagement CGE Website here: https://cge.fsu.edu/global-citizenship-certificate

Taylor Kinsley Chewning – a Ph.D. candidate in Political Science – accepted a position as a tenure-track Assistant Professor at the University of Tennessee.

“As a professor there, I am eager to continue to pursue my research interests, collaborate with colleagues, publish in high-quality journals, and engage with students in topics I am passionate about,” Chewning said. “My time as a Ph.D. student at FSU has prepared me for all these goals.”

To read more, visit the link in our bio (COSSPP News)!

As Fall 2024 graduation quickly approaches, we wanted to highlight our Spring 2024 graduates. In the Spring, over 1,100 graduated from FSU with degrees from COSSPP, joining our 50,000+ alumni. We are excited to see the amazing things our next group of graduates will do!

Professor of Political Science and Director of the Florida Institute for Governance and Civics, Ryan Owens, Ph.D., recently published a book that explores the impact of cognitive aging on federal judges.

Dr. Owens co-authored Cognitive Aging and the Federal Circuit Courts: How Senescence Influences the Law and Judges with Ryan C. Black, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science at the University of Michigan, and Patrick C. Wohlfarth, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science in the Department of Government and Politics at the University of Maryland, College Park.

The book explores how federal judges’ behavior differs and how their opinions change with age, as well as the implications cognitive aging has on the judicial system. The authors find that older judges require more time to complete their opinions, use more cognitive shortcuts, simplify their decisions, and are more at risk of persuasion. The research has wide-reaching implications, as almost a third of federal judges are over 75 years old, and almost ten percent are over 80 years old.

To read more visit: https://cosspp.fsu.edu/in-new-book-professor-ryan-owens-explores-the-impact-of-cognitive-aging-on-federal-judges/.

Today is Giving Tuesday, which is celebrated each year on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving.

We’d like to thank our community for their generosity throughout the year and take this opportunity to share the link to our general development fund, which provides our students with resources to attend conferences and symposia and engage in research opportunities.

https://give.fsu.edu/cosspp

Calling all Fall 2024 graduates and alumni!!

Don't forget to update your contact information with us so that you can stay in touch with the college as we continue to make a difference on and off campus!

Update your information by scanning the QR code or visiting bit.ly/COSSPP-alum-update.

Doris Jackson-Shazier – FSU alumna (B.S. Sociology ‘08) – published her book “Raising Justice: Lessons Learned Through Motherhood” in July 2024.

The book chronicles Jackson-Shazier’s journey from being a 19-year-old pregnant college student to raising a 19-year-old college graduate. It addresses the challenges and profound connection that exists in a mother-daughter relationship, drawing on personal experience and biblical teachings.

“FSU is a backdrop to the powerful story of resilience,” Jackson-Shazier said. “I am proud to still have graduated, although it wasn’t the typical college experience.”

To read more, visit cosspp.fsu.edu/alumni-spotlight-doris-jackson-shazier.

Don't forget to join us this morning from 10 am to noon for our Homecoming Tailgate!

Enjoy a family-friendly celebration with food, drinks (non-alcoholic, plus wine & beer), and family games for all to enjoy. Go Noles!

Rodney Wells, a senior majoring in Interdisciplinary Social Science at FSU, who aspires to become a civil rights attorney, has earned the prestigious accomplishment of being named a Rhodes Scholar finalist.

He interviewed Nov. 16 in Birmingham, Alabama, for the world’s oldest and most celebrated international fellowship award after a rigorous, months-long application process.

“This recognition is not an individual achievement but a reflection of the communities that have shaped me and the collective urgency of our work,” Wells said. “From Mississippi to Alabama, my hometown of Jacksonville, and here in Tallahassee, being named a finalist is more than a personal honor — it underscores the critical need to protect our democracy and cultivate leaders who are attorneys, advocates and voices for justice. This moment affirms that our work is collective and deeply urgent. I am humbled to be part of that shared mission.”

To read more, visit news.fsu.edu/news/students-campus-life/2024/11/21/fsu-student-leader-voting-rights-advocate-rodney-wells-named-rhodes-scholar-finalist.

Don't forget to join us tomorrow starting at 10 am for our Homecoming Tailgate before the FSU vs. Charleston Southern game on Legacy Walk outside of Bellamy!

Enjoy a family-friendly celebration with food, drinks (non-alcoholic, plus wine and beer), and family games for all to enjoy.

No need to RSVP, just come out and enjoy the day with us!

The College of Social Sciences and Public Policy is pleased to announce that Ryan Sonntag has joined our team as our new Associate Director of Development.

In this role, he will work with alumni, parents, current and former faculty, and philanthropic leaders to connect them with opportunities to support the success of our incredible students, faculty, and programs.

“I am looking forward to working with COSSPP’s incredible alumni to build on 50 years of excellence,” Sonntag said. “The opportunity to give my time and talents to benefit my alma mater is a privilege, and I am excited to be a part of FSU’s legacy!”

To read more, visit cosspp.fsu.edu/cosspp-welcomes-ryan-sonntag-as-new-associate-director-of-development!