From Left: Ambassador Rubens A. Barbosa, Brazilian Ambassador to the U.S.; Albert Fishlow, Executive Director, Center for Brazilian Studies, and Francisco Gros, President, Brazilian National Development Bank

SIPA has launched a new Center for Brazilian Studies, creating an interdisciplinary forum for different areas of the University to study the history, society, culture and economy of Brazil.

Under the direction of Albert Fishlow, a visiting professor at SIPA and an expert on the Brazilian economy, the center will bring together scholars and policymakers with expertise on Brazil to hold conferences and promote research and discussion on the country.

"The new center will be an intellectual home for promoting debates and exploring questions concerning Brazil's unique position in a globalizing world," said Fishlow.

Fishlow said that traditionally study of Brazil has been combined with study of Latin America as a whole. He said SIPA chose to create a distinct center for Brazil, because of its unique position and size within Latin America. It's the region's largest country, with its people representing 40 percent of the Latin American population; in addition, its official language is Portuguese, not Spanish.

Rubens A. Barbosa, Brazilian ambassador to the U.S., serves on the board of advisors for the center. He was instrumental in conducting a campaign to obtain support from members of the Brazilian community and from several major U.S. and Brazilian financial institutions.