Two students from very different backgrounds found the same thing on the SAB — a genuine way to shape the program they were living.
Study abroad is a shared experience — but rarely a uniform one. The Student Advisory Board at Syracuse Florence exists to bridge that gap, gathering the full range of student perspectives and turning them into real change.
This past semester, Matheus Miziara Brocchi (USC) and Austin Russell (Colby College) did exactly that. Together with SUF administration, the SAB piloted a new campus app, revamped pre-departure materials and orientation, developed video campus tours, and established an anonymous student tip line to keep feedback flowing throughout the year.
I interviewed students from various friend groups at the beginning, middle, and end of the semester — to understand what had to be changed and what worked.
— Matheus Miziara Brocchi
Austin gathered input from friends, classmates, and calcetto teammates, channeling it toward a stronger orientation and more I-Explore events. “Without their input, orientation wouldn’t have changed for the better,” he says. For Matheus, the experience also shifted how he saw the staff. “They care so much more than we’d like to think as independent young adults.”
Both are clear on whether future students should apply. “The time commitment isn’t too much,” says Austin, “and you get to work with people who genuinely want to improve student life.” Matheus puts it plainly: “Apply, apply, apply.”
Applications for the Student Advisory Board open each semester.
“You never know what might happen, the friends you might make, and the incredible community you will join.”