Ana Maria Lima

Ana Maria Lima is the Director of the Portuguese Language Program and a Senior Instructional Professor at the University of Chicago, where she has served in the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures for 30 years. She specializes in Portuguese language pedagogy, focusing on Brazilian culture and multimedia approaches to language acquisition. Her work emphasizes enhancing students' linguistic and cultural competencies through authentic, unscripted materials.

Ms. Lima holds PhD coursework from the University of Chicago. Her research explores innovative teaching methods, including virtual reality integration and course redesign for Spanish speakers. She has received numerous awards, including the 2023 Higher Education Professor of the Year and grants such as the College Curricular Innovation Grant (2020) and the Janel M. Mueller Award (2015).

Her teaching spans elementary to advanced Portuguese courses, including specialized classes like Portuguese for the Professions and Culture of the Lusophone World. She is affiliated with the Center for Latin American Studies and actively contributes to initiatives like the Illinois Portuguese Language Connection.

Recent projects include redesigning courses to incorporate authentic materials and structured discussions on language use in academic, professional, and social contexts. Her collaboration with peers on virtual reality projects and multimedia pedagogy reflects her commitment to modernizing language education.