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 more recent book is Manifold Destiny: Arabs at an American Crossroads of Exceptional Rule, funded by the Fulbright Commission of Brazil and the National Endowment for the Humanities. His current research is on Brazilian coffee in an Arabic Mediterranean from the 1860s to the 1960s.

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.

Ahmed Al Zamzami, ATLAS Social Media Intern

Ahmed Al Zamzami serves as an ATLAS Intern at the Lemann Center for Brazilian Studies. He supports the center’s initiatives through research, programming, and outreach efforts. A bachelor student majoring in Astronomy and Data Science, and minoring in computer science. Ahmed is interested in applying data-driven approaches to interdisciplinary work and is excited to contribute to the Lemann Center's mission and growth.

Anoushka Grover, ATLAS IT Website Intern

Anoushka Grover is the IT Website Intern at the Lemann Center for Brazilian Studies. She is responsible for managing and updating the center’s website, with a focus on improving accessibility, functionality, and overall user experience. Anoushka is a senior studying Statistics with a minor in Data Science and Business, and she is excited to apply both her technical and creative skills to strengthening the center’s online presence.