A delegation from Ohio State visited Brazil, February 9-14, to meet with partners, engage alumni and perform the Brazil Gateway’s audit. The group included Executive Vice President and Provost Bruce McPheron, Vice Provost for Global Strategies and International Affairs Gil Latz, Executive Director for the Global Gateways and Partnerships Padmini Roy-Dixon and Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer Gates Garrity-Rokous.
In São Paulo, the group visited the GRAACC Cancer Hospital to discuss a resident exchange program; signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Visagio Management Consultancy, formalizing a long-term business partnership; visited Raizen Energy to talk about opportunities for Fisher’s Global Applied Program; dined with education and cultural affairs officers of the U.S. Consulate in Brazil to learn more about higher education in the country; and met with FAPESP’s (São Paulo Research Foundation) leadership to discuss new grant collaborations.
On their last day in the city, they visited faculty from the University of São Paulo who are engaged in collaborations with Ohio State and the Rector Vahan Agopyan. They also met with Thais Corral, founder of Sinal do Vale, a nonprofit that welcomed Fisher’s Honors Cohort in Rio de Janeiro last year. Lastly, they joined the Sesquicentennial Celebration with alumni, faculty, partners and friends.
During a one-day trip to Piracicaba, the delegation visited ESALQ-USP (University of São Paulo School of Agriculture) campus to discuss enhancing the long-term partnership. They also met with alumnus, Henrique Amorim and his son, Henrique Amorim Neto, at their alcohol fermentation company, Fermentec, to discuss sponsored research opportunities.
Most of the team then headed to Curitiba, Columbus’ sister city, where they visited the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), which also has a long-term relationship with Ohio State; had lunch with alumni in academia and industry and participated in a roundtable organized by the local government through its international office to discuss opportunities for smart cities and sister cities.
“A productive and enjoyable visit to São Paulo, Piracicaba and Curitiba on my first trip to Brazil for the Brazil Gateway audit visit,” said Roy-Dixon. “The meetings with university and corporate partners reinforced Ohio State’s engagements in Brazil and will pave the way for future partnerships.”
McPheron then visited the state of Bahia to speak about internationalization at the State University of Santa Cruz and meet with alumni.
“It is very important for us to have such a visit from Ohio State’s senior leadership,” said Jane K. Aparecido, director of the Brazil Gateway. “It is not only an opportunity to show what goes on at the office and engage with our connections in the country, but it is also an occasion for alumni in Brazil to reconnect with their alma mater and remember how it is to be part of this big Buckeye family.”
