FAMU School of Journalism & Graphic Communication (FAMU SJGC) sophomore Zaire Floyd is headed on a global journey.
The sophomore has been selected by the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) for the 2026 Frederick Douglass–Daniel O’Connell Global Internship.
The journalism student was chosen for her “leadership potential and dedication to advancing equity through storytelling and civic engagement,” according to CIEE.
Floyd and 13 other scholars representing higher education institutions such as Harvard, Spelman, Yale, Clark Atlanta, Howard, and Georgia State will participate in an eight-week internship program in Dublin, Ireland, representing the program’s 10th cohort. More than 500 students from across the U.S. applied for the internship.
According to organizers, the Douglass–O’Connell program honors two legendary leaders in the global movement for freedom, equality, social justice, and economic mobility by preparing young professionals for future career success. It is co-sponsored by CIEE, Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs, the African American Irish Diaspora Network, and the John & Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation.
Throughout the program, students will take part in academic lectures, extracurricular and networking activities in Dublin, Cork and Belfast; attend sessions on Irish history and culture; and intern with Irish-based businesses. Internship placement options such as media, technology, and human rights advocacy will be made available to the selected students. Floyd will receive a living stipend, housing, airfare, and more.
According to Floyd, who will travel to Ireland on June 12, applying for the program held a special meaning.
Douglass and O’Connell’s impact on civil rights and advocacy spoke to her passion for using her talents to pursue meaningful work and her belief that she could use her voice to make a difference and inspire change in lives around the world.
“I feel very honored and blessed to be selected for this year’s cohort,” said the Tampa native. “It serves as confirmation that I am on the right track and hard work really does pay off.”
Floyd credits divine intervention for the opportunity. She said that without a friend sharing the application with her, she would never have known about it.
Now she is preparing to embark on her first international academic experience. “I am looking forward to learning more about the culture and deep-rooted history that Ireland has. I’m also very excited to connect with all of the other students attending,” she said.
Although Floyd is preparing to enter new territory, she feels well-equipped to excel in the program.
As the lead news correspondent for Rise Tallahassee, a new nonprofit organization focused on nonpartisan journalism, education and social‑justice awareness that empowers students around voting and civic engagement, Floyd has continued developing her commitment to using journalism as a tool for change and to engage and join forces with people from all walks of life. She also represented FAMU at the 2025 National Grassroots Legislative Conference of the United States Student Association in Washington, D.C., where she worked with students from across the country to learn how to advocate for others.
Currently working with SJGC’s student magazine, Journey, on its video editing team, Floyd points to the training and preparation she receives through the journalism program, underscoring how the university’s motto of “Excellence with Caring” and SJGC’s commitment to teach students to “collaborate, innovate, and elevate, together” resonates with her.
“Being able to represent FAMU and SJGC, which both have outstanding legacies, really means a lot to me. Every day when I show up for class, club meetings, events, etc., it is very evident how hard FAMU students work to create the lives they want to see for themselves and their peers,” she said. “The standard set by FAMU students is always to go above and beyond, and I feel like this is especially true in J-School. I admire everyone’s passion and dedication when it comes to pursuing their crafts. Being able to represent that same level of creativity and work ethic abroad is very exciting and a huge honor.”
Learn more about the program and hear from Zaire Floyd and other scholars in the video below:
