John Tofik Karam has guided the Lemann Center with a focus on programmatic expansion, academic exchange, and cross-cultural collaboration. His leadership emphasizes promoting diversity and innovative approaches to Brazilian studies. Karam brings together multiple disciplines to explore Brazilian culture, politics, and society while building lasting partnerships with scholars across borders.
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Mary Arends-Kuenning led the Lemann Center during two key periods, focusing on expanding fellowships, supporting faculty collaborations, and enhancing student programs. She played an instrumental role in shaping and expanding the Center’s influence on campus and in Brazil. Her work is anchored in agricultural and consumer economics, and she brought unique insights to the Center’s interdisciplinary focus.
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Under Jerry Dávila’s leadership, the Lemann Center experienced growth and deeper engagement with Brazilian studies. An expert in Latin American history, Dávila championed international collaboration, expanded the Center’s reach, and solidified partnerships with scholars and institutions in the United States and Brazil. His work emphasized social history and educational reform in Brazil.
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Joseph Love was the founding director of the Lemann Center for Brazilian Studies. With a distinguished career in the Department of History at the University of Illinois, Love’s work established the Center’s mission of fostering Brazilian studies through interdisciplinary collaboration. He played a pivotal role in building connections between UIUC and Brazilian scholars, laying the foundation for a robust exchange of knowledge and research.
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