FSU DC Study Away Program opens doors for student interns in the nation’s capital
Florida State University is offering a new housing and internship option for students looking to gain hands-on experience in the nation’s capital.
The FSU DC Study Away Program, located in Washington, D.C., will provide students with the opportunity to obtain direct experience through internships at agencies, advocacy and association groups, corporations and government sites. A ribbon cutting was held on Thursday, Sept. 25, to commemorate the occasion.
Starting January 2026, students will live in a supportive community with their peers, where they can focus on their internships while benefiting from shared support and connection.
“Florida State is on the rise — this is our time,” said FSU President Richard McCullough. “With more than 200 students and 7,500 alumni already in the D.C. area, this new housing initiative gives our students a front-row seat to opportunity. This is about giving our students access and a direct path to success.”
The program is a collaboration among FSU’s Division of Student Affairs, the Career Center and University Housing. Students can participate during the fall, spring or summer semesters, living in university-managed housing while continuing their academic coursework and building professional networks in one of the world’s most influential cities.
“This is more than a residence; it’s a launchpad,” said Amy Hecht, vice president for student affairs. “We’re planting our first spear in D.C., and our Seminoles will carry the spirit and values of Florida State into every boardroom and program they enter.”
“In terms of student success, this is an incredible opportunity for our students to go where the work is,” Hecht added. “They don’t have to find it on their own or deal with housing. This is something we’re packaging for our students, very similar to our international programs.”
FSU’s two residences are located on historic Ebenezer Row in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, offering updated living in a quiet, residential setting just blocks from the U.S. Capitol, metro stations, Eastern Market, grocery stores and parks.
“Located just blocks from the Capitol, 16 students will soon be able to call this place home, right here on historic Ebenezer Row,” McCullough said. “We’re going to have people coming here for our Study Away Program, where our upper-level undergraduates will live, complete their internships and gain direct experience with agencies. These internships often turn into jobs, whether in the government, with lobbying firms or with corporations; and all of that ultimately helps us. We’re really, really excited for our students to have this opportunity.”
“This property represents our deep commitment to student success and expanding Florida State’s reach,” Hecht said. “With this space, our students will build an incredible community, engage with Washington, D.C., through internships in politics, think tanks, museums and corporations, and return to Tallahassee with new insights and experiences that will shape their careers.”
Currently, 113 Florida State alumni work on Capitol Hill — more than any other school in the state and placing FSU among the top universities nationwide.
“I think it’s all about access to D.C.,” said Josh Duncan, director of federal relations at FSU. “This housing project opens the doors to so many students who wouldn’t have had that opportunity before — it’s life changing. Our goal is to increase this number and further strengthen FSU’s reputation and presence here.”
(From left) FSU President Richard McCullough, FSU Board of Trustee members Vivian de las Cuevas-Diaz, Justin Roth, Tim Weisheyer, Carson Dale, Chair Peter Collins and Peter Jones gather to celebrate the new DC housing and internship option for students. (Matthew McConnell/Florida State University)
(From left) Chair Peter Collins and FSU President Richard McCullough address the audience unveiling the university's new student housing accommodations in Capitol Hill for students participating in the FSU DC Study Away Program. (Matthew McConnell/Florida State University)
Vice President for Student Affairs Amy Hecht speaks on how the program offers students a place to live within the FSU ecosystem while doing an internship in Washington, D.C. (Matthew McConnell/Florida State University)
(From left) FSU President Richard McCullough, Chair Peter Collins and Vice President for Student Affairs Amy Hecht raise a toast with attendees to celebrate FSU's Study Away Program and commitment to student success. (Matthew McConnell/Florida State University)
The new housing options include a townhouse and a unit with two condominiums, providing a fully furnished experience with shared amenities. Students will have access to a house manager who offers on-site support, monitors the units and communicates student needs to the FSU Housing Office.
“When they walk in, they’re going to get a living environment that looks a lot like a home, it’s not a residence hall environment,” said Shannon Staten, executive director of University Housing and the Childcare Early Learning Center at Florida State. “They will have a staff member living on site who will be able to give them resources and support — to be a connection to us so if there’s a concern, the students can get to us.”
Students accepted into the program will benefit from a turnkey housing experience that includes utilities, Wi-Fi, laundry and kitchen access — all covered under the program fee. They’ll also be part of a supportive community of fellow FSU students, with opportunities to build lasting connections and gain career-shaping experience.
“This connects the university to the students who are going somewhere else to do that,” Staten said. “It gives them the support that says, ‘no worries, we’ve got you.’”
“FSU is incredible,” said FSU Board of Trustees Chairman Peter Collins. “Knowing that there are 7,500 alumni in D.C. — dedicated students and people in influential roles — we need to continue spreading the word about FSU.”
For students interested in applying and for more information, visit career.fsu.edu/dc-study-away-program. Applications for the spring semester are due Monday, Oct. 13.
The Ballards have also donated extensively to Florida State University, Kathryn Ballard’s alma mater. Earlier this year, the couple donated $1 million to FSU for its Food for Thought Pantry, which works to combat food insecurity on campus.
Brian Ballard’s firm, Ballard Partners, also previously launched an FSU scholarship fund in 2020 to honor Gregory Turbeville, who passed away that year at just 49 years old. The scholarship supports students who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement and have financial need.
And the Ballards in 2016 gifted FSU a building valued at $1.1 million to serve as the home of the Jim Moran School of Entrepreneurship and the Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship.
UF establishes the Ballard House, a new Gator home steps from the U.S. Capitol
The University of Florida will establish a permanent home in Washington, D.C., steps from the U.S. Capitol, giving Gator students, faculty and university leaders a place of their own in the city where national policy is made.
The property, to be known as the Ballard House, is a gift from Brian and Kathryn Ballard valued at $4.25 million. It will serve as UF’s front door in the nation’s capital: a place where students can learn and grow through academic programs and professional development, where faculty can share their research with Congress and federal agencies, and where the university can convene leaders from government, public service and the private sector.
His wife, Kathryn, is an alumna of Florida State University. She currently serves as a member of the FSU Board of Trustees. The Ballards were selected by three Florida governors to co-chair their gubernatorial inaugurations.
