I was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and had a lot of fun growing up in this beautiful and intense city. I spent my adolescence practicing sports, going to Leme, my favorite beach, going to samba schools rehearsals and to stadiums like Maracană to watch soccer games. Of course, I also have spent good part of my time studying. I got my B.A. in journalism and worked for daily newspapers and other news organizations both as reporter and editor. But for a common Joe (or Joan?) like me, it is very hard to make ends meet in Brazil-- actually, it can be a nightmare. In 1994, I decided to take the opportunity to cover the World Cup in the U.S. My goal at that time was to spend just a few months in the States, learn few things more about the culture, and then go back to my old life in Brazil. However, for some reason that only God knows, I ended up moving permanently to this country.
Prior to teaching at Georgetown University, I was a faculty fellow (2005-2008) at U.C.L.A.’s Department of Political Science and International Institute, whereI lectured upper-level courses on international political economy, covering both developing and advanced societies. My current research focus is on the global anti-money laundering efforts, with an emphasis on transnational regulatory convergence. I have published articles on international trade and on the politics of economic liberalization.