Apply for the College’s prestigious Social Science Scholars program by Tuesday, October 3, online at bit.ly/2024sssp.
The Social Science Scholars Program provides career-accelerating leadership training and experiences to 18 outstanding COSSPP undergraduate students with a major in the College, a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher, graduating no sooner than the Fall 2024 Semester.
“Social Science Scholars are chosen through a highly competitive process in the fall of their junior year. Those selected participate in a multi-disciplinary leadership seminar during the following spring semester,” said John Mayo, Ph.D., Social Science Scholars Program Director and COSSPP Faculty. “The seminar prepares students for internships as well as for research and service projects that are undertaken during the following summer semester. Through this process, they gain skills and experience necessary for graduate school and for success in our complex world.”
Social Science Scholars enroll in a leadership seminar together; design and conduct an internship, service, or research project in the U.S. or abroad; and often present their findings at the university’s fall Undergraduate Research Symposium. Scholars receive up to $5,000 for project-related expenses, including travel.
2023 Social Science Scholar Gabriel “Gabe” Pfeuffer-Ferguson (B.S. Interdisciplinary Social Sciences ‘24) conducted his internship at The Ohio State University’s Office of Student Life within the Center for Belonging and Social Change.
“The Social Science Scholars program provided me with the leadership and organizational skills necessary for serving various populations,” Pfeuffer-Ferguson said. “I was able to better connect with campus and community partners because I pinpointed which groups to reach out to and how to effectively work with the leaders within those groups.”
Pfeuffer-Ferguson also served as a NASPA Undergraduate Fellowship Program Intern, and led projects within their Student Wellness Center, Center for Leadership and Community Engagement, and their Student Advocacy Center.
He compiled information about and updated a campus presentation on Sports Betting and Gambling Addiction resources, created a presentation to educate students on Freedom of Speech and Expression on The OSU’s campus, compiled mental health resources for international students to utilize, and compiled emergency relief and support resources for students.
Another 2023 Social Science Scholar, Kira Johansen (B.S. International Affairs ‘23), conducted fieldwork research with the University of British Columbia’s From the Ground Up Buddhist and East Asian Studies programs in Bangkok.
“Social Science Scholars has helped me to draw my ideas in the realm of the abstract down to the actual,” Johansen said. “In completing the leadership proposal throughout the semester, I discovered that leadership, and everything else for that matter, only really works if you clarify tangible goals for your group. As such, you can begin to understand actual implementation of ideas, and get past the idea-generating stage.”
Johansen documented different Buddhist temples within Chinese diaspora communities. After, she went to Tainan, Taiwan, to pursue the Taiwan Intensive Summer Language Program hosted by American Councils for International Education in conjunction with National Cheng Kung University (成功大學).
2023 Social Science Scholar Angelina Perera (B.S. International Affairs ’23) spent her summer at the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency as an Intelligence Operations Intern.
“The Social Science Scholars Program has been one of my favorite programs at FSU as it elevated my leadership and professional skills while also allowing me to work with a group of motivated individuals,” Perera said. “This experience taught me the art of effective collaboration, strategic planning, and problem-solving, solidifying my grasp on the dynamics of leadership.”
2023 Social Science Scholar Eli McKown-Dawson (B.S. Political Science ‘24) worked with the LeRoy Collins Institute, presenting projects to the Society for Political Methodology at Stanford University and assisting with grant projects funded by the MIT Election Data and Science Lab.
“The Social Science Scholars supported me as I developed my leadership skills over the spring semester,” Eli McKown-Dawson said. “I learned how to develop and implement an actionable plan to create societal change. These skills have been invaluable in my summer research and will continue to help me throughout my career.”
Dean Tim Chapin expressed gratitude to the College’s many generous alumni and friends who have supported the program, empowering students to ‘Get More Than a Degree’ during their time as undergraduates.
“I’m very pleased to celebrate our 2023 Social Science Scholars’ accomplishments and commitment to improving our world,” Dean Chapin said. “As demonstrated by the great work done by our 2023 Social Science Scholars cohort, this program, supported by our generous donors, provides high-achieving, engaged undergraduates with the opportunity to enhance their leadership skills while pursuing sustainable change in the area of their interest.”
For more information about becoming a 2024 Social Science Scholar and to apply, visit: bit.ly/2024sssp.