Brazilians Studying at Grinnell Attend National Convention

The Wilson Center for Innovation and Leadership provided funding that allowed eight of Grinnell College’s Brazilian students to travel to the 2023 BRASA Summit in Washington, D.C., in October. Summit events included dynamic career fairs, networking opportunities, workshops with hands-on challenges, and panels on the topics of science and innovation, political and economic legacies, artificial intelligence, sustainability, and Brazil in the world. Attendees share the importance of this experience.

What is the BRASA Summit?

Marina Ananias ’26 (music): The BRASA Summit, a highly anticipated annual event spanning two days, serves as a significant gathering that draws Brazilian students from across North America. It acts as a nexus, connecting them with accomplished leaders and professionals who have left a positive mark on both Brazil and the global stage. 

Why attend?

Beatriz Dias ’27: [I wanted] to connect with other Brazilian students studying in the U.S. … I also aimed to gain insights from Brazilian professionals who had established careers related to the U.S.

Thainá Silva de Paula Theodoro ’27: I’m interested in foreign affairs. I was eager to hear from people in philanthropy and international relations. What inspired me most was the emphasis on giving back and bridging cultures. BRASA talks about leadership within industries and how to bring experiences from the United States to students and entrepreneurship in Brazil.

Leonardo Alves Nunes ’27: The event strengthened my bonds with other members of BRASA at Grinnell. … I felt this sense of community even more intensely at the event, where all this support and friendship extended to hundreds of other Brazilian students.

The theme of this year’s summit was legacy. What does that mean to you?

Ananias: It encourages us to reflect on our own purposes, our roles as emerging leaders, what groundbreaking achievements we aspire to make, and the lasting impact we want to leave on Grinnell and the world.

Nunes: The summit prompted me to reflect on significant aspects of my life and my role in society. … What does it mean to be an international student in the United States? How can I utilize a liberal arts education to act as a leader and a citizen in Brazil? … What legacy do I want to leave for my family and friends? What do I want to build in Grinnell?

Which parts of the summit were memorable?

Theodoro: I’m closer to the [BRASA] global board and have made connections that will hopefully help me in the future. … The information I gathered from the panelists will also guide me in my extracurricular activities during and after college.

Dias: One panel on scientific innovation resonated with me, given my interest in physics. It was inspiring to hear from Brazilian women scientists who, as I intend to do in my career, aligned their research with our country’s challenges.

Beatriz Polo ’27: I participated in the one-on-one talk with Gabriel Galipolo, the director of the Central Bank of Brazil, and it was interesting to see what he does in the Central Bank and what projects he is working on right now. It gave me an idea of what my career in economics could look like since I plan on majoring in economics and math. I also got to talk to Paulo Carvao, a senior fellow at Harvard and former IBM general manager, and it made me consider postgraduate and career paths in engineering, something that I am also interested in.

Vini Ono ’24 (economics, computer science): One of the most memorable experiences of the event was the chance to meet Marcia Castro, a Brazilian researcher at Harvard focused on public health. … Her expertise and passion for research left a lasting impression on me. I had planned to enter the job market immediately after graduation, but her captivating lecture made me question my path and consider the possibility of pursuing a research-oriented career. Throughout the event, I found myself pondering this potential pivot and exploring new avenues for personal and professional growth.

Were there aspects of the summit that fostered leadership?

Luis Koehler Domingues ’26: An invaluable part of the conference was a meeting with over 30 leaders of local BRASA chapters. Engaging with them provided me with valuable insights and perspectives on how to improve our own local chapter. Their experiences have given me a renewed sense of purpose and direction as I work to apply the lessons I learned at the summit to help our local chapter thrive.

Ananias: I had a unique experience at this year’s summit as a board member of global BRASA, which I joined after being motivated by the 2022 conference. I was part of the speakers’ team, where I had the privilege of assisting three notable speakers … . During the event, I had the chance to have one-on-one interactions with these leaders, learn from their experiences, and establish valuable connections.

Ono: As the only senior from our Grinnell group attending the BRASA summit, I have had the incredible privilege of guiding my fellow first-, second-, and third-year students through this transformative event. Being able to mentor and support my peers during the summit has been an immensely rewarding experience.  

How will you use your learning for Grinnell and the world?

Bruna Sander Foss ’27: During the summit, we got to meet Brazilian associations from other universities and see how they incorporate Brazilian culture into their daily lives. This showed me how we can spread awareness of our traditions. Now I aspire to foster a sense of unity within our Grinnell community by organizing cultural events, such as November Fest, and contributing to the marketing efforts of our projects. I’m also looking forward to collaborating with other local BRASAs we met at the event.

Domingues: As a Brazilian student in the United States, I was eager to explore how my professional aspirations could be aligned with my cultural heritage and contribute to the growth and development of Brazil. In this context, my experience at the BRASA Summit was truly enriching and unforgettable. A personal highlight was hearing from Duilia de Mello, a Brazilian astrophysicist whose inspiring talk focused on the value of research conducted outside of Brazil and how researchers can positively impact the country even from abroad. Her words resonated with me deeply and further fueled my passion for research. It was a reminder that one can contribute to their home country’s development and progress, regardless of their physical location.

Ono: The BRASA summit has been an extraordinary journey of mentorship, personal growth, and intellectual exploration. It has provided me with a platform to guide and support my peers, while also allowing me to expand my own horizons and consider new possibilities for my future. I am immensely grateful for this opportunity and look forward to the positive impact it will have on our Grinnellian group.