Analia Castellanos – a graduating undergraduate student pursuing a dual degree in international affairs and computer science with minors in economics and mathematics – was named COSSPP’s Undergraduate Humanitarian of the Year on March 2, 2026.
Castellanos founded Global Aid, a Recognized Student Organization, in 2023 and has served as its president since. Through Global Aid, she works to teach students about international affairs while raising money for humanitarian aid.
“It means a lot to have been nominated, and it is really inspiring to continue humanitarian initiatives throughout my last year at FSU and after graduation,” Castellanos said. “It has also been a great opportunity to spread awareness about Global Aid, the student organization that contributed to the nomination, and hopefully reach students who may be interested in joining.”
This semester, Castellanos is also preparing to defend her Honors in the Major thesis, titled “Possibilistic System.” The project draws from topics in discrete math and programming courses and uses a Python algorithm to determine the best course of action given a sequence of events, accounting for obstacles and prerequisites. The research has potential applications in policymaking, risk analysis, and everyday decision-making.
When reflecting on her most impactful experience at FSU, Castellanos pointed to her semester abroad in London.
“Coming to Tallahassee for one semester and then going abroad for my second helped me become more adaptive to new environments and more eager for new opportunities,” she said. “I met so many friends, explored places I only dreamed of seeing, and found my passion for international affairs. When I came back to Tallahassee, I added international affairs as my dual degree and have loved learning more and more about it.”
Castellanos added an economics minor to round out her interdisciplinary background, and she says the coursework has complemented her other studies well.
“It has been especially interesting to connect mathematical concepts and international affairs topics from my other classes to my coursework in economics,” she said. “Building a diverse class schedule has also been a great opportunity to make the most of my time at FSU by exploring a wider range of subjects.”
Her mathematics minor, which accompanies her Bachelor of Science in computer science, similarly broadened her academic foundation and gave her tools she applies across classes, projects, and career preparation.
Castellanos also highlighted the impact of Juan David Irigoyen Borunda, Ph.D., an international affairs instructor who taught her professional development course and later became the faculty advisor for Global Aid.
“Dr. Irigoyen Borunda’s course helped me learn about so many opportunities for after graduation, as well as opportunities available to me as a current FSU student,” she said. “He has been very helpful in his guidance.”
Catellanos will be pursuing her Master’s in International Affairs with a concentration in Tech and Innovation at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.
For more information about FSU’s international affairs program, visit cosspp.fsu.edu/internationalaffairs.