By Rose Jackson

Each year, the FSU Global Scholars program welcomes a new cohort of undergraduate students. English major Kaysyn Jones is among the 2023 cohort.

The program offers special opportunities for students to “engage with critical questions about social impact, social justice, and social change through a combination of academic, classroom-based learning as well as independent research, internship, and/or service-learning experiences,” according to the FSU Global Scholars website.

The program also provides its students with guidance and support during their personalized learning experiences. As students pursue projects that align with their interests and goals, the program provides a peer community, mentorship, curriculum, and structure for intellectual inquiry. The program is described as “a uniquely accessible and affordable pathway through which FSU students can engage with independent opportunities for learning and professional development.”

Jones is majoring in English-Creative Writing and minoring in both museum studies and African American studies. She currently is carrying out her summer internship experience at the Ritz Theatre and Museum in Jacksonville, Florida. She works specifically with the museum´s archives and uses community outreach to evaluate Black artistic spaces in American society.

Jones, a St. Augustine local, is heading into her second year at FSU, joining the Global Scholars program as a first-year student.

In this program, the students’ self-designed experiences may include an online or in-person internship with a social impact organization that is in the U.S. or abroad, and/or a self-directed research project focused on a social issue in the student’s local context.

The program comprises two courses: a theory course in the spring semester before the summer research project or internship and a reflection course in the following fall semester. These courses explore the ethical and political complexities of crossing cultural boundaries and differences of power.

Q&A with Kaysyn Jones about her internship and her studies at FSU

What has your experience with the Global Scholars program been like so far?

I cannot quite remember how I heard about Global Scholars. I think I just saw it someplace and decided that I wanted to check it out. The [spring theory] class was very enjoyable. Everyone was passionate about being there and the lessons were all very interesting. You learn things you do not normally consider when you are about to pursue things like volunteer work and thinking about the effect you will have on the community around you. It was a standout class, and overall, as a program, I am loving it so far.

What does being a Global Scholar mean to you?

To me, it means that I am dedicated to being a culturally conscious academic. I enjoy academia and how my experience shaped up to be. It is about being culturally conscious and conscientious as you're going into the spaces of academia, learning, and service.

Why did you choose FSU for your undergraduate studies?

I liked the campus. It's genuinely a very pretty place. I knew that no matter what happened during my time at FSU, being able to step out and see the campus would help me feel better. I genuinely love the faculty and staff, especially for English, and that was also definitely a big motivator for me.

Why did you choose to study English?

I initially came to FSU for social entrepreneurship in the College of Entrepreneurship, but toward the end of my first semester, I realized that it was not what I wanted to do. I decided to switch over to English after my ENC 2135 course because it made me remember how much I enjoy the act of writing, and I figured that I should just switch over rather than keep pursuing something that was not bringing me any kind of joy.

What were your motivations to intern at the Ritz Theater and Museum?

I have a lot of interest in what it is centered on. The Ritz Theatre and Museum is a Black history museum. The Ritz Theatre was probably one of the biggest theaters in the South during the 1920s and ´30s. The neighborhood of Jacksonville was known as the Harlem of the South during that time. The history there fascinates me, and to continue to be part of that legacy was an incredible draw for me.

What kind of work do you do day-to-day? What's your daily intern life like?

It normally depends on what's going on. When we had an art gallery coming up, I did a lot of work with the artists including copywriting their statements and helping them to figure out what they wanted their space to look like and plan it out. It was nice getting to see what was going on in the artists’ heads and what they wanted to see on the gallery walls. Now that the gallery has opened, my work primarily consists of developing a tour script for the museum; this is always a lot of research, which has been very enjoyable for me. For the most part, I help around when needed, and in the rest of my time, I am researching and working on the script.

It is a great place. I am happy that I decided to have my experience in a place where I have a bit of an established network because it enables me to work on other things at the same time and stay in other programs that I am passionate about alongside this one.

What other programs are you participating in?

I am currently working with The African American History Writing Institute with Duval County Public Schools. Students do research on Black history in the Jacksonville curriculum that's used by a DCPS. I was an intern with them last year, and I am currently helping them arrange a tour of the Ritz so they can speak to the archivists and get a head start for the summer.

I have also been able to help with things like a plan for a Florida Black history heritage trail along U.S. 17 since a lot of incredible figures came up that highway into Jacksonville before moving on and being a part of the Harlem Renaissance. Figures such as Asa Philip Randolph [born in Crescent City, about 80 miles south of Jacksonville] and Augusta Savage [born in Green Cove Springs, about 80 miles south of Jacksonville] all stopped in Jacksonville along that road. We are planning on putting kiosks with details on them along that highway. I personally study Augusta Savage, a Harlem Renaissance sculptor, and I'm currently helping plan all that out. Being able to elevate her legacy while I'm also working at the Ritz has been a lovely experience.

Are you currently working on any of your own research?

In my spare time, I am still doing some research on Augusta Savage because I've been thinking about her more often. She is a fascinating figure, not the least because of how many connections she made as an arts educator and sculptor. She worked with many of the brightest minds of the Harlem Renaissance, such as Jacob Lawrence and Gwendolyn Knight. It is really cool being able to trace her legacy through the ages.

What are your hobbies and interests outside of academics?

Before I got to college, one of my hobbies was research and academics. Nowadays, I write recreationally. I also draw and paint; I am not good at it, but I enjoy it. Writing is the art form that I hone; visual arts are what I do for fun. Besides that, I read and spend time with my family and dog.

Do you have an idea or plan of what career you want to go into after you graduate?

Currently, I mainly would like to eventually be a professor in African American studies, English history, or that general realm. It is something that makes me happy, like the act of doing research and especially getting to teach and pass on information. It sparks something in me and that is something that I would like to continue.

Rose Jackson is a senior with a major in English-Editing, Writing, and Media and a minor in humanities.

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