|
This website is dedicated in memory of Nívea Parsons (1936-2006), a
tireless "ambassador" of the Brazilian culture and Portuguese
Language.
 A native of Fortaleza, Brazil, Nívea lived in
Tucson, Arizona, since 1968 and was a big fan of the Arizona
Wildcats and Brazilian soccer. Having graduated from the
University of San Francisco with a Master’s in ESL, she “worked
tirelessly to solidify the study of Portuguese at the U of A”. She
headed the Portuguese Program and taught courses in Portuguese
language, Luso-Brazilian Literature, and Brazilian Culture from 1968
until her retirement in 2003. Retirement didn’t stop this tireless
woman, who continued to give informal lectures
about Brazil as a
volunteer to retired U of A faculty. Her life was touched by
generosity, a contagious smile, and
her sense of humor. “Dona Nívea”, as
she was known by her students, left a legacy of academic integrity,
hard work, and numerous achievements. She was an inspiration to her
students, friends, and colleagues. Among her contributions, Nívea
was instrumental in making the Portuguese minor mandatory for those
majoring in Latin American studies at the U of A. In addition, she…
 
Pioneered and promoted the Brazilian Carnival in Tucson for
several years
Co-authored Travessia, a video-based Portuguese language
course
Created a Manual de Laboratório for language lab practice
Established the Study in Brazil Program with Universidade do
Ceará
Created a website for her students to stay in touch with the
Brazilian community and practice Portuguese with one another
Founded the Clube Gente Boa, a social gathering for students
to converse in Portuguese
Organized and galvanized the Brazilian community and students
of Portuguese to participate in the former Tucson Meet Yourself, a
traditional fair celebrating Tucson’s rich cultural and ethnic
diversity
Promoted an annual feijoada bringing together the students of
Portuguese and the Brazilian community
Created and taught a course on Brazilian Literature
consisting entirely of Brazilian movies (Nívea was a big fan of “Cinema Novo”)
Organized social get-togethers to watch the Brazilian team
play during the World Cups
Presented in many forums, seminars,
conferences and other scholarly events
NIVEA
PARSONS SCHOLARSHIP
FUND:
The
Nivea Parsons
Scholarship Fund has been established to offer financial assistance to allow an outstanding undergraduate student of Portuguese at the University of Arizona to attend the University of Arizona’s summer study program in Fortaleza, Brazil. [Preference will be given to students who are majors or minors in the Department of Spanish & Portuguese]
Anyone who would like to send a donation to add to the Parsons Scholarship Endowment should do the following:
Address the check to:
University of Arizona
Department of
Spanish & Portuguese
Modern Languages 545
P.O. Box 210067
Tucson, AZ 85721-0067
On
the check’s memo line,
write in: Parsons
Endowment.
|
