![Text: "[the] ONE THING" on a dark blue world map. "the" is golden and bracketed; "ONE THING" is large, white.](https://global.nd.edu/assets/651794/950x/the_one_thing_graphic_1200_x_400_px_3_.webp)
This story is part of Notre Dame Global's series titled "The One Thing."
Every month in 2026, Notre Dame Global will feature one of the University’s 12 global locations—asking each director to share with us “the one thing” they want the Notre Dame community to know about their programs, their achievements, their goals, or their aspirations.
This month, we turn to Notre Dame São Paulo, which celebrates its tenth anniversary in 2026, and the director who has been at the helm of the academic center since its beginning: Thaïs Burmeister de Campos Pires.
What is the one thing you want people to know about Notre Dame São Paulo?
"Notre Dame São Paulo is a vibrant and strategic bridge between Brazil and the University of Notre Dame."
THAÏS BURMEISTER DE CAMPOS PIRES: As we celebrate ten years of Notre Dame São Paulo, I see our academic center as a living expression of Notre Dame’s global mission. Like the University as a whole, we in São Paulo are rooted in our Catholic identity, committed to academic excellence, and deeply engaged with the world.
An excellent example is our role in convening a conference in São Paulo on the eve of the November 2025 United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP), the body responsible for decision-making on the implementation of the commitments adopted by 198 countries to tackle climate change. For the first time, this UN conference was held in the Amazon, more specifically in Belém, Brazil.
In a conference that brought together Notre Dame and Brazilian scholars, we even used the “bridge” analogy in the conference title: “Bridging Worlds: Cultivating Research Partnerships for Climate Hope.”
Why is that one thing—serving as a bridge—so important to Notre Dame São Paulo?
"Over the past 12 years, even before Notre Dame São Paulo was officially established, my work has focused on building and strengthening that bridge in concrete ways."
THAÏS BURMEISTER DE CAMPOS PIRES: We have developed partnerships with Brazil’s highest-ranked universities in Latin America, including Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Fundação Getulio Vargas São Paulo (FGV Business-SP), Fundação Getulio Vargas Rio de Janeiro (FGV Rio), Insper Law, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), and Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo (PUC-SP).
These collaborations are active and ongoing, with multiple research projects connecting Brazilian and Notre Dame faculty across disciplines.
And, the bridge extends to undergraduate and graduate students—students seeking a unique study abroad or research experience.
Just last fall, undergraduate strategic management major Jocelyn Mendoza sought out a program that would push her to grow in ways she could never imagine. She chose to study for a semester at Brazil’s Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV), one of the most prestigious business schools in the world.
We also support alumni engagement, as well as undergraduate and graduate recruitment. In fact, in the last few years, Brazilian students have begun to make up the largest group of admitted and enrolled international undergraduates at Notre Dame—a powerful sign that this bridge is strong and continues to grow.
Universities thrive through global dialogue. In a world that often feels fragmented, building sustained, meaningful academic partnerships across borders is essential. Notre Dame São Paulo ensures that Brazil is not simply a recruitment market, but a true strategic partner in research, education, and global engagement.
What does this one thing reveal about São Paulo and Brazil?
"It reveals Brazil’s academic excellence, global relevance, and intellectual vitality."
THAÏS BURMEISTER DE CAMPOS PIRES: Brazil is currently the ninth-largest economy in the world, playing an important role not only in Latin America but globally.
São Paulo, located in southeastern Brazil, is the country’s financial, academic, and innovation hub. It is the largest city in the Southern Hemisphere and fifth in the world, and one of the most dynamic metropolitan regions in the world. The city brings together leading universities, research centers, multinational companies, and a vibrant civil society. This environment fosters serious academic collaboration and long-term institutional partnerships.
Considering all that, I am also proud to say that we have been working hard—and succeeding—in expanding our recruitment efforts for graduate and undergraduate students beyond the São Paulo metropolitan region and into other parts of Brazil, a vast country with a land mass slightly larger than that of the contiguous United States.
Learn more about the work of Notre Dame São Paulo, and the University of Notre Dame’s global network, or browse related articles:
- Ph.D. student’s trip to São Paulo offers opportunity for collaboration and growth
- Notre Dame launches two co-funded faculty research grants with São Paulo State University
- Director of graduate enrollment management shares insights for Brazilian applicants
Learn more about the collaborative work and partners of Notre Dame São Paulo
Notre Dame São Paulo and climate change
The United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP) is the body responsible for decision-making on the implementation of the commitments adopted by 198 countries to tackle climate change.
Hosted in the Amazon for the first time, COP30 was held in November 2025 in Belém, Brazil. It brought together a broad range of participants, including indigenous peoples, youth, experts, private sector representatives, and government officials.
Partnering with Notre Dame Global, Notre Dame Research, and the Notre Dame Deloitte Center for Ethical Leadership before COP30, Notre Dame São Paulo brought together 12 faculty members from Notre Dame and 21 faculty members and scholars from several prominent Brazilian universities. During “Bridging Worlds: Cultivating Research Partnerships for Climate Hope,” a nod to the University’s 2025-26 forum theme of “Cultivating Hope,” participants shared insights and concerns about climate-related issues. While the group brought unique perspectives based on their areas of expertise, they were united in their call for an interdisciplinary approach to climate action.
Read more: On the eve of COP30 in Brazil, Notre Dame convenes faculty in São Paulo
Notre Dame–Insper Faculty Exchange in São Paulo
As part of Notre Dame Law School's Global Lawyering Initiative, Marcus Cole, Joseph A. Matson Dean of Notre Dame Law School, and a delegation of Notre Dame faculty members visited São Paulo’s Insper this March for scholarly exchange and discussions with their counterparts in Brazil. With over 13,000 students, Insper’s mission is to promote the transformation of the country through the training of innovative leaders and applied research.
As Dean Cole noted, “Our partnership with Insper allows our faculty to learn from one another, refine our scholarship, and contribute to conversations about law that extend far beyond any one country.”
From Suburbs to São Paulo
Jocelyn Mendoza, an undergraduate strategic management major from the Michigan suburbs, wanted a unique study-abroad experience. She chose São Paulo’s Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV), one of the most prestigious business schools in the world and the highest-ranked, AACSB-accredited business school in Brazil, providing students like Jocelyn an excellent opportunity to advance their studies while learning how businesses operate in another country.
As the only Notre Dame student in the program, Jocelyn knew she had a challenge to face when it came to finding a social circle. She describes it as “going back to freshman year,” where she was a new person in a new place, surrounded by new faces. Still, when faced with the choice of applying to a program where she knew she had friends or a program where she didn’t know anyone else, she chose the latter. She chose the opportunity to push past her comfort zone, and it was just as effective as she’d hoped.
Originally published by at global.nd.edu on March 23, 2026.