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Andy Wyatt, Ph.D., received his undergraduate degree in English from �Ը������� in 2016, and is now the Assistant Director of Student Affairs at the �Ը������� Florence Center in Italy. He received his Ph.D. from Columbia University in 2023, and his research focused on modern Italian literature and intellectual history in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

Andy had the opportunity to study abroad in the �Ը������� Florence Semester program as an undergraduate, and the experience inspired him to pursue a career in Italy. He felt a connection to KSU Florence especially, because of how influential it was in his undergraduate studies.

“I had such a great experience as a student, that it was kind of a dream job of mine to be able to come back and be part of that experience for other students.”

Drawing on His Own Experiences to Help Students 

Andy is from Akron, Ohio and the first time he ever left the country was when he went to study abroad at the Florence Semester program. Since part of his job at KSU Florence is organizing activities and extracurriculars for students, he often tries to think of what he would have been interested in as an undergraduate student and tries to pull from his own experiences. Other times he asks students directly what interests them to figure out what would be the best experience for them.

KSU Florence offers a variety of activities for students to participate in. At the beginning of each semester students are always excited for an Italian cooking class. Andy mentioned that many students who participate in the Florence program do not have as much experience cooking in their own apartments, so the cooking class helps them learn some basics. Football (soccer) games are another popular activity among students at KSU Florence, since football is very popular in Italy. 

One activity that Andy does not think is on many students' radar is the day trip he leads to Bologna, Italy each semester. Many students are unaware of Bologna before the trip is announced, but the city is only about forty minutes away from Florence by train. Highlights of the city include the Piazza Maggiore, the central venue for events in the city year-round, and the Archiginnasio and Anatomical Theatre.

Recommendations on What to See in and near Florence 

Andy has a lot of recommendations for students in Florence. He recommends the nearby hill town, Fiesole, which offers a panoramic view of the Arno Valley where Florence is located. 

There are also experiences in Florence that he thinks people often don’t think about, such as the museum Orsanmichele, which is right in the center of the city. It was previously a granary, but was converted to a church, and has a great view of the city. Another hidden gem is the Convent of San Marco, which is right up the street from KSU Florence. In it, you can see the rooms of where the monks would live. Andy finds that San Marco offers a humbling and quiet experience that acts as a break from the bustling city of Florence.

Why Students Should Study in Florence

Andy highly recommends the KSU Florence program for students looking for an education abroad opportunity. He thinks that Italy is such a culturally rich country, and that the differences between Italian and American culture contrast each other nicely. There is something about the art and culture that resonates with American students.

KSU Florence is also well supported with faculty and staff in Italy, and it acts as a good first step for students who want to travel outside of the U.S. In fact, support for students in Florence is not much different from support on the main campus. Most of the resources are the same, with the CARES Center and mental health services offered on campus being adapted to Florence. There are two mental health counselors who students can make appointments with throughout their time in Florence.

There are also a lot of Florence specific resources for students, such as where to shop for apartment essentials and food, Italian classes that can be taken for extra support, and information on Italian food culture. Thanks to the many resources at the �Ը������� Florence Center, students are never left without help.

What Food to Try in Florence

Andy recommends everyone should try gelato, a traditional frozen dessert, since it is what Italy is known for. He also recommends that anyone who loves steak should try Florentine steak, a traditional steak dish from Florence. Students studying in Florence also have access to a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables, which he recommended students should take advantage of. He said that before studying in Florence, he used to hate raw tomatoes. Now he eats them like apples, because of how fresh and good they are in Italy.

Advice for Future Study Abroad Students in Florence

“Be open to try new things. Especially the things that you are not inclined to try normally.”

Andy recommends that students step out of their comfort zone while studying abroad, and that they should try things they wouldn't try normally. Students should push themselves to make as much out of their experience in Florence as possible and be open to experiencing things they wouldn’t experience back home.

Want to learn more about the �Ը������� Florence program? Visit the OGE website for more information.