In the late 1970s, under the leadership of Father Theodore Hesburgh, C.S.C., the University’s international presence, including in Latin America, began to grow. In 1982, Father Hesburgh and Father Robert Pelton, C.S.C., visited Brazil with a twofold mission: engage local alumni in student recruiting efforts, and keep international students and alumni connected to the University and to each other long after graduation. In keeping with those goals, the Office of Admissions has continued annual recruiting trips across Brazil with enormous success.
In March of 2016, Fr. Jenkins visited São Paulo to open the São Paulo Global Center. The Center is located close to Avenida Faria Lima, the city’s principal area of business. This financial center is ranked the eighth largest GDP in the world and is host to many large companies, nonprofit organizations, startups, and government agencies, many of whom host summer interns.
São Paulo itself is the most populous city in the western hemisphere with more than 21 million people in the metropolitan area. It has a history of rich architecture, cultural influence, and esteemed academic institutions. There, Notre Dame can expand its collaborations with universities, corporations, foundations, and government organizations, and raise its profile in South America.
For those interested in exploring São Paulo and the Global Center, please feel free to contact us.
Subscribe to the ND International Latin America Newsletter
The São Paulo Global Center is part of the University of Notre Dame’s global network. Notre Dame International oversees Global Gateways centered in Beijing, Dublin, Jerusalem, London, and Rome. The Gateways create unique opportunities for Notre Dame to engage the world and the world to engage Notre Dame through scholarly collaboration, undergraduate and graduate study, as well as cooperative programs with governments, foundations, corporations, alumni, parents, and friends of the University.
NDI also leads six Global Centers located in Santiago, São Paulo, Mexico City, Hong Kong, Mumbai, and at Kylemore Abbey in western Ireland. A simpler infrastructure, the Global Centers focus on a more defined geographical area to facilitate academic and cultural programming and exchanges.