People | Lemann Center for Brazilian Studies

John Tofik Karam, Director

John Tofik Karam is a Professor in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese and Director of the Lemann Center for Brazilian Studies at the University of Illinois. His first book on Arab cultural politics in neoliberal Brazil (2007) won awards from the Arab American National Museum and the Brazilian Studies Association. It was translated into both Arabic and Portuguese by Centre for Arab Unity Studies and the Editora Martins Fontes, respectively. His current book project is titled, “Manifold Destiny: Arabs at an Exceptional Crossroads of the Americas.” As part of that project, his 2013 article, “The Lebanese Diaspora at the Tri-Border and the Redrawing of South American Geopolitics, 1950-1992,” was awarded the best article prize by the Brazil Section of the Latin American Studies Association. His work appears in both the Journal of Latin American Studies and the International Journal of Middle East Studies.

Carolina Rocha, Associate Director

Carolina is Associate Director of the Lemann Center for Brazilian Studies. Together with the Director, she is responsible for the overall operation of the center, including program development, coordination with other units in the Illinois Global Institute (IGI), grants management, and alumni relations and advancement. Carolina is an experienced educator. She has a Master and PhD from the University of Texas Austin. At the University of Illinois, she worked at Illinois Abroad and Global Exchange as an embedded study abroad coordinator. Before that, Carolina was a Professor at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and where she served as Director of the Women’s Studies program (2019-2024). She specializes in contemporary Latin American literature and cinema and coedited New Trends in Argentine and Brazilian Cinema.

Elis Artz, Senior Program Coordinator

Elis Artz is the Senior Program Coordinator at the Lemann Center for Brazilian Studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She oversees the Center's programs and initiatives, working closely with the Faculty Director to advance its mission. Her work spans strategic planning, student and faculty engagement, and outreach efforts that enhance the Center’s impact on campus and beyond. Originally from northeastern Brazil, Elis is a psychologist with extensive experience in academic program coordination and international education. She has been instrumental in managing fellowships and grants, coordinating high-profile events, and fostering collaborations between scholars in Brazil and the U.S. Her leadership ensures seamless operations and meaningful programming that strengthens connections across academic and cultural communities.

Nicky Vega, Office Support Specialist

Nicky Vega works as an Office Specialist for both the Lemann Center and the Center of Latin American & Carribean Studies within IGI, providing support to administration and staff. She has been with the University for about 3 years now and is super excited to be part of the Lemann Center. She is currently in school to get her business administration degree. She is originally from San Jose, Costa Rica but has lived in Champaign her entire life.

Ruohan Pan, ATLAS Social Media Intern

Ruohan Pan serves as the Social Media Intern at the Lemann Center for Brazilian Studies. She administers the center’s social media, creates engaging content, and coordinates social media campaign schedules. Being a freshman majoring in sociology, Ruohan is eager to contribute her expertise to the development of the center.

Sabine Lee, ATLAS IT Website Intern

Sabine Lee is the Lemann Center for Brazilian Studies' IT Website Intern. She is mainly responsible for managing and updating the center’s website to improve its accessibility, functionality, and user experience. Sabine is a sophomore studying Brain and Cognitive Science with a minor in Informatics and is excited to contribute her technical and creative expertise to the center’s online presence.