Education
FSU summer graduates reflect on academic journeys built on purpose and community
Florida State University will celebrate its summer Class of 2026 on Friday, July 31, as graduates mark academic achievements, personal growth and the start of new careers.
FSU will award 2,891 degrees, including 1,582 bachelor’s, 952 master’s and specialist, 253 doctoral, 99 Juris Master’s, and 5 LL.M. degrees. More than 1,786 graduates are expected to participate in the day’s ceremonies.
Anne Bristol
As the daughter of Haitian immigrants and a first-generation college student, West Palm Beach native Anne Bristol will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in political science and a minor in innovation from the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy.
Bristol chose Florida State because of the support she found through the CARE TRIO SSS program and a campus culture that encourages students to lead with purpose. FSU gave her opportunities to turn her passion for advocacy into public service, mentor peers and facilitate meaningful dialogue.
“My time at FSU has instilled in me a commitment to creating positive change in my community, and I am incredibly grateful for the mentors, peers and experiences that have helped me grow into the leader I am today,” Bristol said. “The relationships I built and the opportunities I created for others are what I will carry long after graduation.”
Bristol built strong connections across the FSU community through leadership roles in the Student Senate, the Black Student Union, and the Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement (CARE).
“Walking across the stage represents so much more than earning a degree,” Bristol said. “It symbolizes every challenge I have overcome, every mentor who believed in me and every sacrifice my family made so I could reach this moment. As the daughter of Haitian immigrants, I carry my family’s resilience with me every day. Crossing the commencement stage means becoming a first-generation college graduate, a milestone that reflects generations of perseverance and hope.”
After graduation, Bristol plans to attend law school to pursue a career in public interest law, advocating for historically underserved communities and helping create equitable policy.
Nicholas Baldini
As a legacy student who grew up wearing garnet and gold, Marietta, Georgia, native Nicholas Baldini will earn his second degree from Florida State University, a Master of Business Administration from the Herbert Wertheim College of Business.
Baldinio previously earned his bachelor’s degree in finance at FSU and formed lasting connections through his fraternity, intramural leagues and church group. Following in the footsteps of his mother, a 1987 alumna, he returned to his dream school to blend campus traditions with graduate-level professional development.
“Walking across the commencement stage represents much more than earning another degree,” Baldini said. “This reflects years of hard work, perseverance and growth, along with the support of my family, friends, professors and mentors who helped me along the way. To me, this represents striving to go above and beyond and to stay curious by continuously learning throughout my whole professional career.”
Baldini returned to Florida State to build on his finance background and strengthen strategic leadership skills. Experiences such as attending an alternative investment summit and networking with estate planning professionals helped prepare him for a career in wealth management.
“The MBA program has challenged me to think strategically, collaborate with talented classmates from so many backgrounds, and approach business problems from a broader perspective,” Baldini said. “It is a moment to celebrate everything I’ve accomplished at FSU while looking forward with excitement to starting my career and applying what I’ve learned.”
After graduation, he plans to move to Atlanta to begin his career in wealth management at Charles Schwab. He plans to earn the Certified Financial Planner designation and provide pro bono financial planning to historically underserved communities.
William Perez
Miami native and first-generation graduate student William Perez will earn a doctorate in religion from the Department of Religion in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Perez, the son of Cuban and Nicaraguan immigrants, moved to Tallahassee in 2021 with his wife and four daughters to pursue the American religious history track. Now a father of five, he values the intellectual community he found at FSU and the ability to pursue rigorous doctoral research while spending meaningful time with his family.
Perez chose to attend Florida State because of the national reputation of its religion program. At FSU, he presented at international academic conferences, published research on religion and emotion and received several awards, including the department’s Porterfield Research Prize.
“Not only does FSU boast one of the oldest religion departments at a public university in the United States, but its religion faculty also remains on the cutting-edge of research and publication in the field,” Perez said. “I wanted the opportunity to learn from and work with them, and it has paid off.”
After graduation, Perez plans to continue teaching and conducting research in Tallahassee. He will serve as an adjunct professor in FSU’s Department of Religion and as a religious educator with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ seminary and institute program.
He also hopes to turn his dissertation on religion and emotion into a book, elevate the Latino community in religious studies and bring the interdisciplinary approaches he learned at FSU into wider academic conversations.
“Walking in this ceremony is meaningful to me because it represents not only my accomplishment, but a huge win for the family and community that has cheered me on from the very beginning,” Perez said. “It is the culmination of years of hard work and also the beginning of a new and exciting chapter.”
Jack Wemm
A Tallahassee local and lifelong Seminole, Jack Wemm will graduate magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Sport Management from the Anne Spencer Daves College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences. He chose FSU for its nationally recognized program and the opportunity to attend his childhood dream school.
During his three years at FSU, Wemm combined academic excellence with leadership and service across the university community.
“I believe in the saying, ‘The people make the place,’ and there is no place like FSU,” Wemm said. “The feeling of being a Seminole and a part of the Florida State community is special.”
Wemm’s time at FSU was defined by service. As vice president of membership for Seminole Student Boosters, he helped lead the student-run organization raising money for FSU Athletics and student-athletes.
He also interned with University Relations, assisting with commencement ceremonies and football game operations and served as a team manager for the FSU men’s and women’s golf teams.
“Graduating in this ceremony means a lot to me because of the hard work and perseverance of not only myself, but also those who have supported me,” Wemm said. “When I walk across the stage, I hope my parents, my professors and the friends I have made along the way know that I could not have gotten this far without them.”
Wemm also studied sport management in London and spent six weeks in Valencia, Spain, through FSU International Programs. The experience broadened his understanding of the global sports industry.
After completing his bachelor’s degree, Wemm will intern in athletics law with FSU’s Office of the General Counsel this summer. He will then remain at Florida State to finish his master’s degree in sport management through the combined pathway program before pursuing law school, where he aims to build a career as a sports lawyer helping shape the future of athletics.
Sydney Goldberg
Tampa native Sydney Goldberg will graduate with a Master of Applied American Politics and Policy (MAAPP) from the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy. A double Seminole, she completed her bachelor’s degree in political science with a minor in psychology in three years before entering the graduate program.
Goldberg was drawn to FSU for its location in Florida’s capital and the access it provided to state government. The MAAPP program allowed her to complement her studies with work on political campaigns and experience in state agencies, the legislature and advocacy.
“Walking in commencement marks the end of my academic career at FSU,” Goldberg said. “I tend to move quickly from one goal to the next, so commencement gives me a chance to stop, recognize everything I have accomplished and celebrate with the family and mentors who supported me.”
During her time at FSU, Goldberg maintained a strong campus presence, serving as vice president of the MAAPP Executive Board and holding leadership roles within Garnet and Gold Key, the Women’s Leadership Network, the Student Conduct Board and the Jewish Student Union.
Her proudest accomplishments reflect a commitment to public service. She worked on two successful state and congressional campaigns and participated in two Florida legislative sessions, including work for Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez. She also was selected for the Florida Gubernatorial Fellows Program and spent a year with the Florida Division of Emergency Management.
Looking ahead, Goldberg plans to build a career in political strategy, government affairs and advocacy, using her broad perspective across state leadership to drive results.
“Florida is my home, and I want to continue making a positive impact on the state that has given me so many opportunities,” Goldberg said. “I have been fortunate to have mentors who guided and advocated for me, and I hope to provide that same support to future students and young professionals entering the field.”
Pranathi Brungi
Pranathi Brungi will earn a doctorate in electrical and computer engineering from the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. A native of South India, she was drawn to FSU by the college’s partnership with Florida A&M University and its nationally recognized research in power electronics.
Under the mentorship of Professor Petru Andrei, Brungi conducted interdisciplinary research in semiconductor devices, magnetics and machine learning. She developed advanced modeling techniques designed to improve electronic device performance and accelerate the design process.
Brungi’s graduate experience was defined by rapid achievement, leadership and service. She earned both her master’s degree and doctorate in three and a half years, received the Danfoss Research Scholarship and represented FSU during a weather balloon launch at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
She also presented at three Electrochemical Society conferences, served as a session chair and student ambassador, contributed to several research publications and chaired the Excellence in Teaching Award Committee for Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honor society.
“Walking at commencement represents far more than completing a degree,” Brungi said. “Earning a doctorate has been a personal dream and a journey filled with challenges, growth and perseverance. What makes this moment especially meaningful is seeing my parents and my brother proud of what I have accomplished.”
After graduation, Brungi will begin her career as a device engineer at onsemi, where she plans to advance AI-driven semiconductor design and streamline manufacturing. She also hopes to strengthen partnerships between universities and industry so that promising research can move into practical use.
“Semiconductors are at the core of nearly every technology we use today,” Brungi said. “I want to help ensure this field continues to grow, innovate and inspire future generations of engineers and researchers.”