Developing Global Citizens

Honoring Our Veterans, Listening to Their Stories

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. 

Biotechnology in Brazil

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.

Exploring the Indigenous History and Culture of Campeche

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.

Understanding Society, Marriage, and Family Around the World

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 Ireland

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. 

Opening Doors to Asia

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. 

My Brother's Keeper (MBK) Global Scholars

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. 

The Swedish Connection

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.

A Global Understanding through Study Abroad

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 de...

Exploring the World through Foods

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 Con...

Experience the Power of Study Abroad

From Cuba with Love

Dr. Vilma Fuentes invites Professor Dr. Javier Sampedro, professor of Humanities, to the studio.  Dr. Sampedro, talks about the complex dynamic of growing up in Cuba under communist rule and alternatively living most of his adult life outside his homeland.  Dr. Sampedro touches upon the resiliency and joy provided through the arts and the adaptations made possible through childhood's tendencies towards creativity and exploration. He also reflects on how his experiences in Cuba have influenc...

Siempre Sigue Soñando

Dr. Vilma Fuentes welcomes two Santa Fe College Latina employees, Olga Asimbaya from the Records office and Ismelda Alvarez from the Admissions office. In advance of Hispanic Heritage Month the two discuss their own history and the paths they took to earn their college degrees.  In addition, both Ismelda and Olga discuss why they have chosen to give back in service to students and encourage Spanish speakers of all ages interested in attending college to register for Sigue Soñando, an admissi...

From Apartheid to WhatsApp, Embracing the People of South Africa

Dr. Vilma Fuentes sits down with Santa Fe College chemistry professor, Dr. Alpheus Mautjana to discuss growing up in the era of apartheid in a Bantustan, his educational journey in South African and the United States. Dr. Mautjana discloses how he makes strides to not only connect with his students at Santa Fe College, but also how he continues to connect and provide educational resources to families currently living in South Africa. 

Advancing the Understanding of Women's Independence

In this episode Dr. Vilma Fuentes speaks with visiting Fulbright Scholar, Dr. Mona Ahmed Ashour about her experiences in the United States over the past five months.  Dr. Ashour discusses some of the fears and misconceptions she faced when she first arrived in the United States. And provides a comparison and contrast of cultural and religious factors influencing education and career advancement for women in the United States and Egypt.   In addition, Dr. Ashour provides insight into the di...

The Florida-Caribbean Linkage: Community Colleges in Four Countries

Join us as we hear from higher education officials from Grenada, St. Lucia and Suriname as we compare and contrast their community colleges and technical vocational education systems and compare them to U.S. community colleges. Our guests participated in a six week Community College Administrator Program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and implemented by Florida State University and Santa Fe College.

Human Trafficking: Global Issue, Local Impact

Inspired by the story of William Wilberforce,  leader of the movement to abolish the slave trade. after watching the movie "Amazing Grace", Santa Fe College Professor Richard Tovar embarks upon a quest to make an impact on the world and live for something greater than himself.  More than a decade later, Tovar sits down to talk about the global problem of human trafficking and recalls the early days of founding the non-profit organization FIGHT (Fight Injustice and Global Human Trafficking). ...

Cultural Exchange Experiences in a Time of Covid-19

Professor of Organizational Management, Mark House and Santa Fe College student Sergio Mejia talk about the Global Solutions Project, a virtual student exchange program providing students the ability to practice cross cultural collaboration and learn about each other’s culture as they engage in the process of design thinking and discuss global issues in their communities. Sergio reflects on his experiences as a member of this bi-lingual, bi-national, bi-cultural team and how SF students join...

Cultural Exchange Experiences in a Time of Covid-19

Professor of Organizational Management, Mark House and Santa Fe College student Sergio Mejia talk about the Global Solutions Project, a virtual student exchange program providing students the ability to practice cross cultural collaboration and learn about each other’s culture as they engage in the process of design thinking and discuss global issues in their communities. Sergio reflects on his experiences as a member of this bi-lingual, bi-national, bi-cultural team and how SF students join...

Immersed in Bolivian Language and Culture

Professor of anthropology Ann Laffey talks about her travel to Bolivia. She discusses the hospitality of a Quechuan village, mishaps in communication between non-native Spanish speakers, an encounter with a traditional spiritual healer and the profound impact of being present in Bolivia during the electoral process. 

SF students and alums reflect on their military service, post 9/11.

On the 20 year anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks, host Vilma Fuentes sat down with current and former Santa Fe College students to ask them an important question - in what ways they had grown as global citizens in the last 20 years. Drawing on their common experience of enrolling at SF after serving in the military, alums David Durkee '14 and Angela Gregory '99, and current students Malia Rose and Brian Sullivan had a conversation about their life experiences, from combat t...

Reaching Students Despite Quarantine and Martial Law

Santa Fe College Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs, Vilma Fuentes, talks with Humanities and Foreign Languages Chair, Bill Stephenson and Professor Kerri Blumenthal,   as they examine the challenges and adaptations required to internationalize virtual classrooms, as a result of Dr. Blumenthal's unexpected and extended Covid-19 quarantine in Peru. 

A Virtual World Tour

Vilma Fuentes talks with Jessica Cassidy, SF's International Education coordinator; Dr. Anna Ageicheva, Dean of Humanities at the National University Poltava Polytechnic in Ukraine; Dr. Regiani Zacarias, professor of English language at the Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho in Sao Paulo, Brazil; and Dr. Marcela Murillo, Spanish and Humanities professor at SF about the innovations that have transpired on international activities in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Africa in SF Classrooms

Santa Fe College assistant professor of Humanities, Dr. Sarah Cervone, talks about her work as a graduate student in Morocco and how she translates what she has learned in Africa to students here at SF.

Building a Better Foundation: Inclusive Education In Brazil

In 2008, Brazil passed legislation to help promote inclusive education. Now, Santa Fe College has partnered with the State University of Sao Paulo to bring several inclusive projects to light. Join our host Dr. Vilma Fuentes as she speaks with Klaus and Eliza Schlünzen, two visiting professors from Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), as well as two of SF’s own instructional designers, Andy Sheppard and Jason Frank. Learn all about how Legos are leading educational innovation and what inclusi...

Four Students, Four Continents: Spring 2020

What compels a person to travel across oceans and continents to enroll at Santa Fe College? Join our host Vilma Fuentes as she speaks with four students from Mali, Sweden, Venezuela and Syria whose lives have now intersected. You’ll be surprised which countries have free college but zero accommodations for disabilities, and just how far some students are willing to go to find a writing tutor. Try to guess which American phrases sound the silliest to students from abroad as you wrap your hear...

The Guertin Family: A Santa Fe College Love Story

Hold onto your heart. In this episode, host Vilma Fuentes speaks with Lila Guertin, cardiovascular technology professor at SF, one month after the passing of Lila's mother Azza Guertin. Azza, a biology professor, was "Santa Fe-mous" for her glamour, humor, and commitment to science education at the college. Hear Lila share the international love story between her Baghdad-born mother and her New England-raised father, their world travels, curious culinary experiences, and what it was like to ...

Deaf culture around the world

Join our host Vilma Fuentes as she speaks with SF's American Sign Language professor Michelle Freas about all the ways Santa Fe College has expanded its deaf culture curriculum to include the global community. With grant funding from the U.S. Department of State, she and other faculty members have been able to travel and form partnerships with deaf communities in Brazil, Ukraine and Palestine. Did you know our SF students collaborated with students in Qalqilya, a city in the West Bank, to cr...

Dr. Jackson Sasser's commitment to internationalizing SF

Dr. Jackson Sasser launched his term as the fourth president of Santa Fe College in the shadow of 9/11. The event literally affected his travel during his interview process. Over the 17 years that followed, he developed many programs to internationalize the college. In this interview with host Vilma Fuentes, he discusses these programs and his motivation in taking a community college in a global direction. 

Promoting inclusive education in Ukraine

The American Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed in the United States in 1990, creating a culture shift for many Americans. Ukraine has no such legislation in place, and life for Ukrainians with disabilities can be very limited. In this episode of Developing Global Citizens, your host Vilma Fuentes speaks with Santa Fe College AVP Dug Jones, alumna Natalia Prior and current bachelor's program student Sith Waters, all of whom traveled to the Ukraine to explore accessibility and inclusive educat...

South African educators visit Santa Fe College

Twenty-five years after the end of Apartheid, 16 delegates from South Africa visited Santa Fe College and shared their rich experiences of living, and educating, in a young democracy. Their visit was part of the Community College Administrator Program (CCAP) funded by the United States Department of State. In this episode of Developing Global Citizens, our host Vilma Fuentes discusses the progress and challenges of the last 25 years with special guests: Azwinndini Christopher Tshivashe, Pri...

Follow that Fulbright! Dr. Rodkin goes to Ukraine ... and Russia

Between the fall of 2017 and spring of 2018, Dan Rodkin, our Associate Vice President of Student Affairs, traveled to both Ukraine and Russia. His first trip was sponsored by the U.S. Department of State as part of its Community College Administrator program. The second trip was a Fulbright opportunity.  He left with the missions of opening up the world for more students and of talking about the importance of academic integrity. He returned with a rich collection of impressions and experien...

Dr. Rodkin goes to Ukraine ... and Russia.

Between the fall of 2017 and spring of 2018, Dan Rodkin, our Associate Vice President of Student Affairs, traveled to both Ukraine and Russia. His first trip was sponsored by the U.S. Department of State as part of its Community College Administrator program. The second trip was a Fulbright opportunity.  He left with the missions of opening up the world for more students and of talking about the importance of academic integrity. He returned with a rich collection of impressions and experien...

Local Zoo ... Global Conservation

Did you know Santa Fe College has an AZA accredited Teaching Zoo? Our host Dr. Vilme Fuentes speaks with the zoo director, Jonathan Miot and Jade Salamone, the zoo's conservation education curator. They share stories about species they have helped rescue from habitat loss and near total extinction and tips for being a more sustainable global citizen.

Alberto Alonso's Carmen Suite: From Cuba to Russia, and now Florida

This fall, Santa Fe College welcomes the American Ballet Theatre and the New York Dance Project to its Fine Arts Hall for an historic event. For the first time since 1974, a U.S. audience will experience “Carmen Suite” performed with a live orchestra. The ballet was choreographed by the legendary Alberto Alonso, who after leaving Cuba came to teach at Santa Fe College. Produced by his wife, Sonia Calero-Alonso, the performance will showcase the talents of principal dancers Sarah Lane and Cor...