• Ph.D. Harvard University (1993) – Romance Languages and Literatures

Master of Arts, University of California, Santa Barbara (1986) – Spanish & Portuguese

Bachelor of Arts, University of California, Santa Barbara (1983) – English & Portuguese

Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil (UCSB Education Abroad Program) 1981-1982

• Dean, Languages Division, Pasadena City College

• Have taught at: Harvard University, University of California at Los Angeles, University of California at Santa Barbara, Florida International University (Miami), and Fundação Alto Taquari de Ensino Superior (Brazil).

• At Florida International University:

- Director of Academic Programs, Latin American & Caribbean Center

- Associate Professor of Portuguese & Spanish (including courses on Brazilian literature, culture and cinema)

- Director, FIU Film Council

          - Associate Director, Asian Globalization and Latin America project (Title VI grant)

          - Associate Director, Dancing Across Disciplines (FIPSE grant)

• Author of the book: O Questionamento da História em O Tempo e o Vento de Erico Verissimo.  (FATES, 1997).

• Co-editor of A Twice-Told Tale: Reinventing the Old World- New World Encounter in Latin American Literature and Film (University of Delaware Press, 2000).

• Author of “Teaching: A review of Brazil programs within Latin American Study Centers (CLAS) in the US.”  Guide to the Study of Brazil In the United States, 1945-2000. Paulo Roberto de Almeida, ed.  Washington, D.C.: Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Relations, 2000 (forthcoming as Envisioning Brazil, University of Maryland Press).

• Numerous articles including: “Beyond Embrafilme: The Fall and Rise of Brazilian Cinema”; “Como era gostoso meu francês: Tropicalismo in the Cinema”; “Love and History: Game as Metaphor in O Quatrilho”; “Three Views of the Amazon in International Commercial Film”; “You are What You Eat: Tropicalismo and How Tasty was my Little Frenchman”; and “Renascença do Cinema Brasileiro.”

• Co-author with John S. Zdanowicz, Simon J. Pak,“Brazil’s Political and Economic Policies, 1995-1999: The Impact on Capital Flight.”

• Co-Chair, Brazil Section. Latin American Studies Association (LASA)(2000-2001).

• Jury member, Brazilian Film Festival of Miami.  1997, 1998, 2001.

• Member of various academic associations:

Latin American Studies Association (LASA)

Modern Language Association (MLA)

American Association of Teachers of Spanish & Portuguese (AATSP)

Brazilian Studies Association (BRASA)

Southern California Brazilianist Association

Associação Internacional de Lusitanistas (AIL)

South Atlantic Modern Language Association

California Teachers of English for Speakers of Other Languages (CATESOL)