College plans exchanges
with Brazilian counterpart

Representatives from the College of Architecture at Texas A&M University and their counterparts at the Universidade de São Paulo have agreed to explore the possibility of creating an academic exchange program for faculty and students.

During a July 26 visit to Texas A&M, Marcelo de Andrade Romero, vice-dean of the Brazilian university's College of Architecture and Urbanism, signed a letter of cooperation, on behalf of his school, with Elton Abbott, the assistant dean for international programs at the Texas A&M College of Architecture.

The two colleges have agreed to explore:

• exchanging faculty for joint teaching and research programs,
• encouraging qualified students to enroll in each others academic programs,
• strengthening the relationship between the schools and furthering excellence in U.S. and Brazilian education, and
• developing an official program agreement at a later date.

During his visit, Romero got a first-hand look at the college's award-winning solar light pipe project during a tour at the college’s Digital Fabrication Facility led by Liliana Beltrán, associate professor of architecture and the project's principal investigator.

He also met with college administrators and toured the Texas A&M campus.

Romero's visit followed a Texas A&M delegate trip to Brazil earlier this year to explore the establishment of academic ties with several universities there. Lou Tassinary, the college's executive associate dean, was among the Texas A&M delegates.

The University of São Paulo, founded in 1934, is one of the largest universities in Brazil, with an enrollment of approximately 75,000 students.

- Posted: Sept. 6, 2010 -

Contact:   Phillip Rollfing, prollfing@archone.tamu.edu or 979.458.0442.