Penha-Lopes received a bachelor’s degree in social sciences in 1982 from the Universidade Federal do (federal university of) Rio de Janeiro. She received a master’s degree in 1987 in anthropology and a doctorate in sociology 12 years later at New York University.
She recently became co-director at Bloomfield’s Center for Cultures and Communication program to promote diversity on and off the 11-acre campus located about 15 miles from New York.
Penha-Lopes, who has taught at the school affiliated with the Presbyterian Church for 11 years, also serves as co-chair on Brazilian affairs at Columbia University.
“Our students must … understand various cultures in a world that has become very small. Vânia has the experience and personal perspective to teach that,” said psychology professor Rashmi Jaipal, a native of India who also taught at Bloomfield for 11 years and created the school’s Center for Cultures program. “Students are not taught about the rest of the world, and it’s not considered important. Vânia makes it relevant to show that what we learn from other countries can also be used here.”
