Through Syracuse Abroad, students have the unique opportunity to study, explore and grow in a foreign country—building independence, forging connections and learning in ways that transcend textbooks.
For four students, their spring 2024 semester in the Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello Syracuse University Program in Florence was transformative. Together, they found more than just academic fulfillment; they discovered the deep, life-altering beauty of Italy.
“When I got there, it was a bit of a culture shock,” says Robyn Seymour ’25. “But the experiences and scenery—everything was so beautiful.”
New Connections
Robyn Seymour ’25 (left) and Shelby Justrich ’25 visit the Santissima Annunziata church in Florence, Italy, during their semester in the Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello Syracuse University Program in Florence.
Seymour and Shelby Justrich ’25 were good friends before they boarded a plane bound for Florence. Facing the challenges of navigating in an unfamiliar country, they quickly connected at the airport with their new roommates Charlotte Sforza ’25 and Signe St. Sure-Caye ’25, and the four of them found their way to their new apartment.
Their apartment, a modest 15-minute walk from the Syracuse University Florence campus, offered them a window into true Italian life. St. Sure-Caye, who has Sicilian roots, was particularly moved by the everyday experiences, saying, “We were away from the tourist areas, surrounded by so much authentic Italian culture.”
For St. Sure-Caye, a political science and sociology major, it wasn’t just about studying abroad—it was about connecting with her heritage and delving into the European history she’d long studied. “Every single place, every single corner had something important to it,” she says. Like the Giardino dell'Orticoltura, a historical garden near their apartment.
Before classes started, the abroad program hosted an orientation for the students to meet each other and bond over their shared excitement. In addition to their studies, the program offered cooking classes, walking tours and one-on-one conversations with Italian students, and each student had the chance to embark on field trips, both day outings and overnight adventures. On their third day in Florence, Sforza and Seymour were on a 7 a.m. train headed to Pisa for one such trip.
Real-World Learning
The program emphasizes experiential learning, as demonstrated by this site visit to the Santa Maria Novella church, led by art history professor Jonathan Nelson (far right).
Sforza, a communications and rhetorical studies major, grew up with a strong connection to her Italian heritage and had always wanted to travel to Italy. During her semester in Florence, she interned at a high-end fashion boutique, gaining hands-on experience connected to the completion of her fashion and beauty communications milestone. “I was able to gain so much experience there,” she says. “I had an amazing advisor in Syracuse who was helping me connect with my supervisor at my internship.”
Justrich, who had recently switched her major to human development and family science, wasn’t sure if studying abroad would be an option, fearing she was behind in her coursework. But Syracuse’s Falk College advisors made it happen, reassuring her that it was possible.
In Florence, Justrich dove deep into art history, with classes that took her out of the classroom and into the heart of the city’s rich cultural history. “We visited churches or museums,” she says. “That’s different from being on campus in Syracuse because I actually got to see what I was learning.” Her final project focused on the portrayal of women in Florentine art history—which aligned with her personal interest in women’s health.
Seymour, a psychology major, felt as though her classes were more close-knit.
“There was a lot more group activity and open discussion with the professors, which was a good feeling,” says Seymour, who was motivated by Italian culture, food and art to go abroad for the first time. “A lot of the people I spoke to during classes I would speak to outside of class as well. We would talk about where they went, what they did, what they recommended. It was a great way to get information on places I was going to go or that I hadn’t heard about yet.”
The four students also made the most of their weekends, visiting nearby cities—and two of them went on a coastal cruise for spring break. “It was some of the best times ever,” Sforza says.
Looking Ahead
The four students spent time working in the courtyard of the Syracuse University Florence campus, a hub of offices, classrooms, a computer lab, library, doctor’s office, student lounge and professional kitchen.
The lessons learned in Florence didn’t end with the semester abroad. Sforza, energized by her internship experience, secured another internship for the following summer. She returned home one step closer to her goal of a career in public relations and lifestyle content marketing.
For St. Sure-Caye, the time abroad had a lasting effect on her involvement with her studies back at Syracuse. “Coming back, I feel like I’m more engaged in class and more excited,” she says. St. Sure-Caye, Justrich and Seymour all plan to attend graduate school after graduation.
Looking back on their shared experiences, they all agree studying abroad in Florence was a major highlight of their college journey. It wasn’t just about the courses, the trips or the internships—it was about immersing themselves in a new culture, meeting new people and navigating a different language which allowed them to grow in ways that extend beyond the traditional college experience. If given the chance, they would go back in a heartbeat.
Sforza, now closer than ever to Seymour and Justrich, sums it up perfectly: “I didn’t know Robyn and Shelby before this, now they’re some of my best friends,” she says. “If someone was on the fence about doing it, they should just sign up. Something good is bound to come from it.”
