An Exemplary Program: University Student Exchange

University of Maryland exchange students with Dr. Ricardo Motta Miranda, Rector of Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, summer 2007.

Maryland Partners welcome reception for Brazilian students, summer 2008.



Brazilian students learn about diamondback terrapins(mascot of the University of Maryland), summer 2008.

Since 1993, the University of Maryland’s Office of International Programs, the university’s Natural Resources Management Program, and later the Department of Environmental Science and Technology, and Maryland Partners have provided leadership on the Maryland side to a student exchange program between the states of Maryland, USA, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, focused on ecology and natural resources management. On the Brazilian side, like effort has been devoted by Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Universidade Federal Fluminense, and Rio Partners. Every other year, a small group of Brazilian students and one or two faculty members travel to Maryland to learn about its educational and academic facilities, environmental NGOs, related government agencies, and research foundations; in the intervening years, a like number of students and faculty from the University of Maryland travel to the state of Rio de Janeiro.

In 2009, nine University of Maryland students and a professor traveled to Rio de Janeiro for a 2-week visit. They had the opportunity to visit different cities, environmental programs, and two university campuses in the state of Rio. Program objectives included learning about environmental, conservation, and science programs that are located in the state of Rio de Janeiro, learning about the similarities and differences between the Chesapeake Bay and Guanabara Bay and actions taken to preserve both, learning more about environmental and science careers in the host universities, and building people-to-people connections to advance better understanding between the two states.

Teaching in Salvador

In July 2009 Professor Jesse Waters was a Teacher in Residence in Salvador, Bahia, through the Pennsylvania/Bahia Partners of the Americas. His visit has been documented on his blog which can be accessed by clicking the above title.

Bahia Week

The Pennsylvania/Bahia Partners has supported Philadelphia’s Bahia Week since 2005. Over the years, this celebration, directed by Suzana Silva of Conexoes Consulting, has featured performances by Daniela Mercury and Dance Brazil presented by the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, as well as exhibits by Dr. Kenneth Dossar and Lucia Correai Lima de Souza, U. S. film premieres by filmmaker Lazaro Faria and fashions by Marcia Ganem. In addition, Chef Odilon Braga Castro, Nelson Cerqueira, Dr. Olivia Santana, Secretary of Education and Culture for Salvador, and Leonel Leal Neto, Secretary of International Affairs for Salvador have all been guests of honor.

The Bahia Mona Lisa (pictured) was created by renowned Brazilian artist Ferjo for Bahia Week. The painting was later featured in a solo exhibition of the artist's works at the Museum of Modern Art in Salvador.

West Virginia Partners of the Americas

The West Virginia Partners of the Americas is a private, non-profit, non-partisan organization that develops leadership, understanding and opportunity in the Western Hemisphere. For more than forty years, caring and compassionate people - just like you - have volunteered their time and resources to strengthen cultural awareness and appreciation. Even today, we maintain a unique relationship with the people of Espirito Santo, Brazil. Together, we create opportunities that inspire hope for all and celebrate the richness of our diversity. This Chapters Community Development & Service Objective is to provide assistance to children in a rural community in Espirito Santo. Projects have included Library Project at Conceigao do Castelo and School Uniforms Project at Conceigao do Castelo.

Pictured are children receiving books that were sent to the library in a rural, low income area of Espirito Santo.

Pennsylvania/Bahia Choral Collaborations

Pennsylvania enjoys a spirited partnership with Bahia, one that focuses on cultural and educational exchanges. A choral music collaboration between Dr. Russ Shelley, the Elma Stine Heckler Professor of Music at Juniata College in Huntingdon, and Cícero Alves Filho, a choral conductor and composer in Salvador, has led to numerous exchanges including performances of Shelley’s composition "Voices of the Holocaust" by choirs in both cities. In June 2009, the duo presented a workshop on International Collaborations at the National Chorus America Conference in Philadelphia.