The OU Center for Brazil Studies operates a Visiting Scholars Program tailored for university professors, graduate students, and practitioners engaged in diverse aspects of Brazil’s social, economic, political, and institutional development.
For each academic year, a small cohort of scholars will be selected to join the program. These Scholars gain access to OU’s extensive libraries and facilities, actively participating in tailored activities organized by the Center. Additionally, they have the opportunity to audit classes and may be invited to contribute to Brazil-related initiatives on campus.
Applications will be received on a rolling basis.
All prospective Visiting Scholars must submit an application form (below) and the following supporting materials:
The U.S. State Department requires that OU ensure that visitors’ English language proficiency will permit day-to-day functioning and allow for a productive experience while here. Preference is given to applicants with standardized test scores equivalent to the TOEFL 100/250/600 range.
Applicants with no standardized test scores may instead provide English-proficiency certification from their home institutions. If you are not reporting a test score as part of your application, you may list the name of an institution that will certify your English proficiency if you are selected. Applicants who have completed one or more academic degrees in the Anglo-American world need no certification
Questions? Email us at brazilstudies@ou.edu.
Élida Graziane
Élida Graziane has a Ph.D. in Administrative Law from Brazil’s Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), a Ph.D. in Financial Law from the University of São Paulo (USP), and a postdoctoral degree in Administration from Fundação Getúlio Vargas (FGV).
She is a professor at FGV and a Prosecutor of the Accounts Prosecutor’s Office of the State of São Paulo (MPC-SP).
Her research revolves around the financing of fundamental rights, government debt, public budget, fiscal rules and the control of public accounts.
Jose Eduardo Elias Romao
Jose Eduardo Elias Romao holds an LL.M with a specialization in mediation procedures and a Ph.D. in Law focusing on public policymaking under the Constitution, both awarded by the University of Brasilia (UnB). He started his academic journey three decades ago as a law student, when he participated in a transdisciplinary program at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) known as “Polos de Cidadania” (Citizenship Hubs), which combined teaching, research, and community outreach. Throughout the years, he has balanced academic research with roles in public and corporate management, with a primary focus on human rights and integrity. With over 15 years of experience in the field, Jose has contributed significantly to Organizational Ombuds in Brazil, where he notably served as the Ombudsman General.
Daniel Nunes
Daniel de Freitas Nunes is a Ph.D. candidate in Sociology at the University of Brasília, where he also attained a M.A. in Education. His research is centered on first-generation students within high-prestige higher education institutions in Brazil. He has expertise in socioeconomic data analysis of databases from Brazil’s National Institute for Educational Research (Ministry of Education), including the Census of Higher Education and the National Student Performance Exam (Enade). Daniel currently serves as a professor at the Federal Institute of Science, Technology, and Education in the State of Goiás.
Ana Laura Becker Aguiar was a Visiting Scholar (not in residence) with the OU Center for Brazil Studies and is a PhD candidate in Law at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). She holds an M.S in Gender from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), an M.A. in International Law and Human Rights from the UN-mandated University for Peace (Upeace), and a B.A in International Relations from the University of Brasilia (UnB). Ms Becker Aguiar has worked in international organizations such as the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the Inter-American Development Bank, and Unesco.
In 2013, she became a Social Policy Analyst for the Federal Government, where she worked for the Ministry of Citizenship and the President’s office. More recently, she joined the research team of Dr. Michelle Morais, assisting with her research on human rights bureaucrats. Ana Laura’s doctoral research focuses on the permeability of international law to the demands of the Brazilian women´s movement, especially by looking at negotiations at the IV United Nations Conference on Women held in Beijing in 1995.
Fabio Rezende Braga was a visiting scholar at the OU Center for Brazil Studies and a doctoral student in Human Rights at the Law School, Federal University of Paraná (UFPR). He holds a Master's Degree in Social Environmental Law at PUC-PR (Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná). His doctoral research addresses vulnerability and social justice in Law, looking at vulnerability as resistance from a broader construction of citizenship. The concept of vulnerability is innovative in the field of Law and brings theoretical elements that could help reshape the way the legal system looks at inequalities.
Ana Claudia Farranha was a Visiting Scholar from March to September 2022. Graduated in Law (UFES -1991), Master in Political Science (UNICAMP - 1999), and Ph.D. in Social Sciences (UNICAMP - 2006). She is an Associate Professor at the Law School of the University of Brasília (UnB). Ana Claudia is also a professor at the Graduate Program in Law at UnB (PPGD) and a Researcher at the Center for Advanced Studies in Government and Public Administration (CEAG/UnB).
Member of the Executive Committee of the Brazilian Network of Women Scientists (RBMC) and former director of the Brazilian Society of Public Administration (SBAP/2021). The main research topics are Public Policy Analysis; Rights of Access to Public Information, racial and discrimination issues; Law and Public Policy. She will develop the research project “Rights of access to public information in Brazil and the USA: an institutional context for black people”, with a grant from the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Distrito Federal (FAP/DF).
Elaine Licio was a Visiting Scholar for the Spring 2022 semester. She holds a Ph.D. in Social Policy from Brasilia University (UNB, 2012), a MA in Public Affairs and Government from Fundação Getúlio Vargas (EAESP/FGV – 2002) and a BA of Laws from Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo (PUC/SP - 1997), Brazil).
Elaine has been a public policy and government management specialist in the Brazilian government since 2002 and is currently working at Institute for Applied Economic Research (Ipea), Brazil. Her studies focus on social policies and intergovernmental relations. While at OU, she will conduct field research to understand United States welfare policies mobilized to face Covid-19 pandemic, especially those related to cash transfers.
Elizabete Pellegrini was the Visiting Scholar for 2021. She is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Political Science at the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Brazil, and a member of the Laboratory of Studies on Politics and Criminology (PolCrim), Brazil. She holds a M.A. in Political Science (UNICAMP, 2018) and a B.A. in legal studies (Mackenzie University, 2014).
Her studies focus on alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods and other innovations produced by justice reform policies in contemporary democratic states. In her Ph.D. thesis, she has investigated gender inequality in the context of ADR practices within justice systems in Brazil and the United States. While at OU, she will conduct field research to understand how different professionals understand the benefits and challenges of using alternative methods to deal with domestic violence cases in Oklahoma.
Eduardo Gomor was the Visiting Scholar for the 2019-2020 school year. He earned his bachelor degree in Public Administration (1997) and later obtained a Masters degree in the same field (2008), with the thesis “Formulation of Cultural Policies: Incentive Laws and the Living Culture Program”. Eduardo gain his Doctorate of Social Policy (2017), with the thesis: “Hip Hop and Latin America: relations between culture, aesthetics and emancipation”, from the cases of Brazil, Cuba and Colombia.
Eduardo has been a planning and budget analyst in the Brazilian government since 2011, and is currently working in the Cabinet of Presidency at the National School of Public Management – ENAP. His current research themes are the Brazilian issues of “Structural Racism, Neoliberalism and Necropolitcs” and “Black female peripherical rappers in São Paulo.”
Marcelo Reis was the Visiting Scholar for the 2018-2019 academic school year. Marcelo’s academic history has been focused on studying international relations and law. Marcelo has earned Bachelor's degrees in international relations (University of Brasilia- 1998) and legal studies (Federal District University- 1999) as well as LLM degrees in International Law (Groningen University, the Netherlands-2002, UniCEUB-2005).
While at OU, Marcelo conducted research in collaboration with local professors that resulted in the paper “Revisiting the Brazilian aversion to the state-investor clause: state capitalism and treaty-shopping” (title translated). He is now a PhD candidate in law at University Center of Brasília and works at the Special Secretariat for Foreign Trade and International Affairs at the Brazilian Ministry of the Economy.
The J-1 student intern exchange visitor program at OU is designed for graduate or undergraduate students who are currently pursuing a degree program outside the US, and who wish to participate in an internship opportunity in the US that fulfills an educational objective of their degree program. This is a work-based educational opportunity that will reinforce the intern’s academic program.
As an intern, you would have the opportunity to build partnerships with OU faculty, staff, and students and learn from their methods and varying areas of expertise. You will also be immersed in the culture and life at OU, practicing English skills as well as experiencing life at an American university.
If you are interested in participating in this program, please email brazilstudies@ou.edu.
The OU Center for Brazil Studies is also open to undergraduate or graduate students seeking experience in institution-building. We always need support with events organization, communications, administration and research.
Past Interns
Aline Rocha was a 2020 Brazil Studies intern. She is an education and democracy enthusiast. She studies Social Sciences at the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Goiás and is co-responsible for the Laboratory of Public Dialogues.
Eduardo Campbell was a 2020 Brazil Studies intern, and he helped to organize that year's annual symposium at the College of International Studies. He earned a bachelor's degree in International Affairs with minors in Portuguese and Psychology at the University of Oklahoma. As part of his studies, he conducted extensive research about Brazil racial past and present, as well as LGBTQ+ movements in the country. He is originally from Panama but lived in Brazil for two tears. During his time in Brazil, he worked with former federal deputy Jean Wyllys on issues and policy related to race and the LGBTQ+ community. Eduardo is currently studying a master's degree in Public Policy at the Hertie School of Governance in Berlin, Germany.
Rodrigo Barretto was a 2019 Brazil Studies intern. He is a Brazilian lawyer with specialized practice in Corporate Governance, Risk Management and Compliance - GRC, and a Masters in Public Management and International Cooperation (Federal University of Paraíba)He is currently a researcher linked to the Ethics, Integrity and Good Governance Center of the same institution.
While at OU, he worked with the faculty of the David L. Boren College of International Studies to conduct research concerned with institutional measures to prevent fraud and corruption in Brazil and its alignment with public sector best international compliance practices. He states that the best parts of OU were “the incredible academic structure, the scientific collection at my disposal and the feedback from the faculty of the David L. Boren College of International Studies.”
In 2019, we promoted the inaugural edition of a Summer School, working in partnership with Brazil’s Institute for Learning, Development, and Research (IDP). The School builds on the broad expertise of IAS and OU faculty, to provide the next generations of Brazilian academics and professionals with advanced training on issues of democracy and human rights.
With the end of restrictions posed by 2019, the Center is currently working to host a second edition of this initiative. We plan to expand the reach of this Summer School to include a more diverse audience, with students from across the Global South.
2019 OU+IDP Summer School
