From December 4 to 6, Dr. Cris Lira participated in the conference Strengthening Portuguese Programs Through Collaboration at Princeton University organized by Dr. Ana Catarina Teixeira (Emory University) and Dr. Nicola Cooney (Princeton University). The event brought together directors and coordinators of 15 U.S. universities to engage in dialogue on the evolving role of Portuguese language and culture programs in higher education.

The meeting centered on collaborative discussions addressing curricular innovation, program sustainability, student recruitment, and community engagement, with particular attention to Portuguese as a global and pluricentric language. Through structured presentations and roundtables, participants exchanged strategies for strengthening lesser-taught language programs across diverse institutional contexts.

During the meeting, Dr. Lira delivered a presentation highlighting the past, present, and future of the Portuguese Language Program at the University of Georgia. She addressed the program’s enrollment growth, the strategies that have supported this expansion, and data reflecting strong levels of student satisfaction, offering a concrete example of effective program development grounded in a proficiency-based curriculum implemented as part of the Portuguese Flagship Program.    

Dr. Lira’s participation underscored the University of Georgia’s active role in national conversations shaping the future of Portuguese studies. The conference concluded with plans for continued collaboration among institutions, reinforcing shared commitments to innovation, sustainability, and the expansion of Portuguese language and culture programs across U.S. higher education.