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2014

April and May

Three men cut ribbon in doorway
Luke Barbara, Joseph Steinmetz and William Brustein officially open the Brazil Gateway with a ribbon cutting.

The Ohio State University Board of Trustees approved a plan to launch a Global Gateway office in São Paulo, Brazil. Ohio State opened its first two Gateways in Shanghai, China in February 2010, and Mumbai, India in March 2012.

Luke Barbara, an Ohio State alumnus, was named director of the Brazil Gateway.

By having an institutional presence in three strategic regions, Ohio State opened the door to creating new partnerships and making lasting connections to benefit students, faculty, staff and alumni.

“We are extremely pleased to receive support from the Board of Trustees and university leadership to open the Brazil Gateway. Ohio State’s presence in one of the key markets in the world will certainly bring new opportunities for teaching and research collaborations, renew and enhance our friendship with a growing alumni base and contribute to Ohio’s economy through partnerships with businesses operating globally.”
– William Brustein, vice provost for global strategies and international affairs

September 13

Group of people lined up around small table.
Formal sister city partnership established with Curitiba during ceremony in Brazil.

Ribbon cutting ceremony officially opens the Brazil Gateway on September 13. Attending the event from Ohio State were Joseph E. Steinmetz, executive vice president and provost; William Brustein, vice provost for global strategies and international affairs; Bruce McPheron, vice president and dean of the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences; Patrick S. Osmer, vice provost for Graduate Studies and dean of the Graduate School; Caroline Whitacre, vice president for research; Christopher Hadad, dean of Natural and Mathematical Sciences; David B. Williams, dean of the College of Engineering; Luke Barbara, director of the Brazil Gateway; Keira Williams, program coordinator, Global Gateways.

Mayor Michael B. Coleman and Barbara Pratzner, executive director, Sister Cities International, also participated in the event.

“The Brazil Gateway will allow us to form new academic and business partnerships, attract talented new students, promote scholarship on global issues, engage with our alumni and offer exciting opportunities for our students and faculty to collaborate with colleagues throughout Brazil. It will be an embassy for the University in Brazil – a critical hub for Ohio State in the 21st century.”
– Joseph E. Steinmetz, executive vice president and provost

September 16

The Brazil Gateway facilitated the celebration that formalized Columbus’ sister city relationship with Curitiba, which was signed into place by Mayor Michael B. Coleman on September 16, 2014.