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(From left) Rachel Armstrong, Gabriella Burke, Isabella Perez, FSU President Richard McCullough, Jonah Watson, Mickey Wagoner and Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Jim Clark. (Bill Lax\/Florida State University)\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t(From left) Rachel Armstrong, Gabriella Burke, Isabella Perez, FSU President Richard McCullough, Jonah Watson, Mickey Wagoner and Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Jim Clark. (Bill Lax\/Florida State University)\t\t<\/p>\n
Seven Florida State University students are spending their spring semester living and learning in the heart of Washington, D.C., as the first participants in the university\u2019s new FSU DC Study Away Program<\/a>.<\/p>\n The group \u2014 Rachel Armstrong, Gabriella Burke, Ryan Nutzman, Isabella Perez, Mickey Wagoner, Jonah Watson and Mia Zamora \u2014 will gain hands-on experience through internships at congressional offices and other organizations while residing in FSU-managed housing just blocks from the U.S. Capitol.<\/p>\n In 2025, Florida State University purchased two townhomes<\/a> in a residential neighborhood to provide FSU students with a supportive living environment as they pursue internships at agencies, advocacy and association groups, corporations and government sites.\u00a0The university\u2019s innovative housing solution allows students to make the most of their internships and network opportunities in D.C. as they continue their academic coursework. The housing includes a house manager who offers on-site support, monitors the units and communicates student needs to the FSU Housing Office.<\/p>\n \u201cThis initiative is yet another great milestone for Florida State University,\u201d said FSU President Richard McCullough. \u201cThe FSU network in Washington is strong, home to more than 7,500 alumni. By providing our students with housing options, they have even more support as they gain hands-on experience in the nation\u2019s capital.\u201d<\/p>\n The FSU DC Study Away Program is a collaboration among\u00a0FSU\u2019s Division of Student Affairs<\/a>, the\u00a0Career Center<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0University Housing<\/a>.\u00a0Students can apply to participate during the fall, spring or summer semesters. If accepted to the program, they have easy access to the Capitol, both major political party\u2019s headquarters, and House and Senate office buildings.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re truly excited to offer this opportunity to our students, providing them safe, affordable housing to bolster their educational and professional journeys,\u201d said Amy Hecht, vice president for Student Affairs.\u00a0\u201cEven though they\u2019ll be farther from campus, they will remain deeply connected to Seminole spirit and community.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Seven FSU students moved into their new housing in Washington, D.C., where they will live and learn just blocks from the U.S. Capitol. (Division of Student Affairs)In 2025, FSU purchased two Washington, D.C. townhomes as a housing option for FSU students engaging in experiential learning opportunities. (Division of Student Affairs)<\/p>\n Rachel Armstrong, a criminology and criminal justice major, said she is ready to take what she has learned at FSU and apply it while interning for U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz.<\/p>\n \u201cI am incredibly excited to immerse myself in Washington, D.C. and gain firsthand exposure to the federal policymaking process,\u201d Armstrong said.<\/p>\n Jonah Watson, a political science student, will be interning with U.S. Rep. Neal Dunn. He said he is looking forward to gaining hands-on experience in Washington, D.C. while representing FSU.<\/p>\n \u201cBeing able to apply what I\u2019ve learned in the classroom to real-world work while also connecting with other FSU students and alumni in D.C. is something I\u2019m especially excited about,\u201d Watson said. \u201cI think this program will be a great opportunity to grow professionally, expand my network and better understand how my field operates at the national level.\u201d<\/p>\n Rob Liddell, assistant vice president for FSU\u2019s Career Services, said experiential learning, like internships, facilitates identifying and strengthening skills students need to succeed post-graduation. This emphasis on career readiness secured FSU the No.\u00a013 spot on The Princeton Review\u2019s<\/a> 2025 list of the Top 20 Best Schools for Internships among public schools across the U.S.<\/p>\n \u201cOur top priority is accelerating student success,\u201d Liddell said. \u201cThe DC Study Away Program is another way we strive to meet the expectations, goals and interests of our students.\u201d<\/p>\n Mia Zamora, a Tallahassee native majoring in international affairs, is interning with the Office of Congresswoman Lois Frankel.<\/p>\n \u201cInterning in Washington, D.C. through the FSU DC Study Away Program is such an exciting opportunity for me,\u201d Zamora said. \u201cI\u2019m looking forward\u00a0to seeing how my background in political science and international affairs translates into real policy work and public service, and I cannot wait to represent my community in the heart of politics. I know we\u2019re all so excited to start.\u201d<\/p>\n