TALLAHASSEE, Fla.— For many college students, studying abroad is their first step into a larger world. But behind every successful international program is a faculty member whose own journey begins the same way by stepping outside the classroom and into a foreign country.

At Florida A&M University, faculty are doing just that, traveling across the globe to reimagine the way they teach and prepare students for the complexities of a global workforce.

Kenyatta Rosier, an instructor at the FAMU School of Business and Industry, is among the most recent faculty to take that leap. She traveled to Barcelona, Spain, in May 2025 as a fellow of the IES Global Institute. The program aims to prepare educators to design globally focused, problem-based coursework. The fellowship, she said, was unexpected but transformative.

“What started as me just supporting students during Study Abroad Week turned into something life-changing,” Rosier said. “I didn’t even apply. I was recommended by the Office of International Education, and the next thing I knew, I was learning alongside professors from all over the world.”

Dr. Rosier is developing a course called Comparative Cultures of Business, launching in Summer 2026. It will explore global business practices through the lens of cultural intelligence, marketing, and management in a two-week trip to Paris, France.

Students will study everything from farmers’ markets to multinational corporations and social enterprises that model inclusive, sustainable practices.

“My biggest takeaway is that learning isn’t just about facts and figures,” Rosier said. “Sometimes you have to unlearn what you think you know about success. This course will help students see business through a different lens.”

Tiffany Packer, Ph.D., an associate professor at the FAMU College of Social Sciences, Arts, and Humanities, also attended the Global Institute as a fellow representing the social sciences. She emphasized the broader academic value of the fellowship for both educators and students.

“The IES Global Institute created a meaningful opportunity for faculty and students to view the world as an extension of the classroom by participating in international learning experiences. Rattlers, both students and faculty alike, will continue to benefit from being engaged in relevant, global discussions for years to come.”

Rosier’s international background will enhance course content. She’s presented research in Singapore and Jamaica and has spent time in Austria, Switzerland, France, and the United Arab Emirates. Her work focuses on collaboration and diversity in management, and her travel experience only deepens what she brings to her students.

Emily Maurer, coordinator at FAMU’s Office of International Education and Development, says programs like IES are key to expanding global learning.

“When faculty come back from these fellowships, they’re not just bringing new material, they’re transforming the way they teach,” Maurer said. “That’s how we prepare our students to lead in a global society.”

She added that when students see faculty traveling, leading, and learning abroad, it opens up the possibility that they can do it too.

According to Florida A&M News, Loryn May, former SGA President, spoke about her study abroad experience in Rome, Italy.

Loryn declared studying abroad in Europe was the best experience of her life. “I love meeting new people and being in new spaces; it was the perfect mix of learning, culture, and fun.”

As Rosier continues shaping her course, she hopes it serves as a gateway for students who have never considered international travel. “It’s about connection,” she said. “When students see that their professor has done it, they start to believe it’s possible for them too.”

With faculty champions like Rosier and Packer at the helm, and support from global partners like the IES board, FAMU is positioning itself as a national leader in cultural experiential learning, one course and one passport stamp at a time.

For more information about study abroad programs, visit the Office of International Education and Development here.

Media Contact

Deidre P. Williams
Director of Communications
Office of the Provost
deidre.williams@famu.edu 

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