International Affairs Teaching Professor Whitney Bendeck, Ph.D., received Florida State University’s 2025-26 University Teaching Award for Outstanding Teaching in the Major (undergraduate) in recognition of her impact on undergraduate students.
The University Teaching Award for Oustanding Teaching in the Major (undergraduate) recognizes FSU faculty for outstanding undergraduate and graduate teaching. Recipients are nominated by students and alumni and receive a $2,000 award.
“It is rewarding to see that students appreciate the investment their professors make in their lives and development,” Dr. Bendeck said. “Given that there are so many amazing and deserving professors at FSU, it is truly an honor to be chosen for this award.”
Dr. Bendeck describes her approach to teaching as one focused on equipping students with the tools needed to understand complex issues and think critically. By providing a strong foundation of knowledge, she aims to help students feel confident and prepared as they move forward in their academic and professional paths.
For Dr. Bendeck, studying abroad with her students is the most rewarding part of teaching at FSU. She said these programs enrich learning by allowing students to engage with global contexts beyond the classroom.
“Experiential learning is critical for students, and international travel helps students to become more cultivated, confident, culturally aware, and knowledgeable in their field of study,” Dr. Bendeck said. “International travel is not only a source of legitimacy for students of International Affairs but is also an excellent opportunity for our students to ‘get more than a degree’ by enhancing their learning experience.”
When asked what advice she had for new faculty members or Ph.D. students, Dr. Bendeck said, “Find your passion when it comes to teaching and academia. When you are teaching the topics that you find exciting and participating in activities that keep you fired up, it is a genuine pleasure to go to work every day. It is also crucial to form relationships with your students as that makes the classroom environment all the more engaging and relational.”
To learn more about FSU’s International Affairs Program, visit: cosspp.fsu.edu/internationalaffairs.