Portuguese and Brazilian Studies at Brown

Parabéns to the Class of 2026!
On Sunday, May 24th, the Department of Portuguese & Brazilian Studies celebrated the graduation of undergraduate concentrator Henry Robbins, as well as Maria Frigotto's transitional A.M., and the Ph.D. completions of Kevin William Ennis, Joyce Silva Fernandes, and Torin Kees Spangler.

Henry Robbins graduated magna cm laude with a double concentration in Portuguese & Brazilian Studies and History. He was also awarded the prestigious Karina P. Lago Memorial Prize, which is given annually to an outstanding concentrator in Portuguese and Brazilian Studies.

Maria Frigotto received her transitional master's degree, writing a thesis under the supervision of Patrícia Martinho Ferreira entitled "As We Break: Afro-Indigenous Routes of Blackness in the Brazilian Theatrical Adaptation of The Dark Side of Skin."

Kevin William Ennis completed his Ph.D., defending a dissertation under the supervision of Leila Lehnen entitled "Narrative Streams of Extractivism in Amazonia."

Joyce Silva Fernandes completed her Ph.D., defending a dissertation under the supervision of Patrícia Martinho Ferreira entitled "African Women’s Short Fiction in Portuguese."

Torin Kees Spangler completed his Ph.D., defending a dissertation under the co-supervision of Leonor Simas-Almeida and Luiz Valente entitled "Steamboats and Kiandas: The Nineteenth-Century Kwanza Riverscape in Modern Angolan Literature."

At the end of each semester, the POBS community gathers together for an evening celebrating the achievements and talents of students in the Department of Portuguese & Brazilian Studies. Learners showcase their language skills and creativity in a series of varied and dynamic exhibitions and performances in Portuguese. Students at all levels demonstrate their linguistic progress through recitations, readings, musical performances, and multimedia presentations. The event not only highlights the department's commitment to immersive language learning but also strengthens our connections to the rich cultural traditions of Portugal, Brazil, and other Portuguese-speaking countries. Faculty, staff, students, and community members alike look forward to this special evening that bridges classroom learning with real-world expression and celebrates the journey of language acquisition in all its forms.

Parabéns, Dr. Spangler!

We are very happy to announce that our PhD candidate Torin Spangler successfully defended his dissertation, "Steamboats and Kiandas: The Nineteenth-Century Riverscape in Modern Angolan Literature," last month.

The defense committee consisted of Leonor Simas-Almeida, Luiz Valente, and
Gabriel Rocha.

The Department of Portuguese and Brazilian Studies extends our warmest congratulations to Dr. Spangler on this significant academic achievement! Please join us in celebrating her accomplishment and wishing him success in future endeavors!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our book talk with Djamila Ribeiro! On Friday, May 1st, the Department of Portuguese and Brazilian Studies was thrilled to host Brazilian author, philosopher, and activist Djamila Ribeiro in the True North Classroom at Stephen Robert '62 Hall for a thought-provoking discussion on her acclaimed book, Where We Stand.

During the presentation, Djamila unpacked crucial concepts such as “speaking place” and examined how race, gender, and social position shape voice, power, and representation in contemporary society. Drawing upon Black feminist thought and engaging with the foundational legacies of thinkers like Sojourner Truth, bell hooks, and Audre Lorde, she invited us all to reflect on the historical silencing of Black women and to imagine more just and inclusive forms of dialogue.

We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to Djamila Ribeiro for sharing her valuable insights with our community. We also want to give a special thank you to the organizers of this wonderful event: Aline Frazão, Ivo Cruz, and Maria Frigotto, as well as to everyone who attended and contributed to such a rich and engaging conversation.

Thank you for making this event a success!

🎭 On Friday, May 1, the students of POBS 1080 (Performing Brazil) took the stage to present their original short plays. From writing and directing to producing and designing, the students brought their own stories to life!

Click through the carousel to see photos from their incredible performances!

On Friday, April 24, we commemorated the 52nd anniversary of the Carnation Revolution (25 de Abril 1974), a pivotal moment when Portugal peacefully overthrew the Estado Novo dictatorship, modern Europe's longest-standing authoritarian regime.

The revolution earned its name from the carnations placed in the barrels of soldiers' rifles, symbolizing the bloodless transition to democracy.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our final Pizza e Papo of the year on April 24th!

Thank you to everyone who joined us and The Brazil Initiative at Brown last month for Javier Uriarte's talk "Narrativas de desaparecimento na fronteira amazônica" (“Narratives of Disappearance in the Amazonian Frontier”).

Special thanks to Professor Uriarte for sharing his research and insights with us and to Jeremy Lehnen for organizing the event!