Gabrielle Oliveira

Gabrielle Oliveira is the Jorge Paulo Lemann Associate Professor of Education and Brazil Studies at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education (HGSE). She holds a joint appointment with the Brazil Studies Program and focuses on transnational migration, immigrant children’s educational trajectories, and family dynamics across borders. Her research merges anthropology and education, emphasizing marginalized communities’ agency and knowledge.

• Education: M.A. and Ph.D. in Anthropology and Education from Teachers College, Columbia University (New York City).
• Affiliations: Co-founder of Colectiva Infancias, a National Geographic-funded initiative documenting migrant children’s stories; member of the Immigration Initiative at Harvard.

Research Interests

Oliveira’s work centers on:

• Immigrant families’ navigation of global crises and educational systems.
• Transnational motherhood and its impact on children’s identities and schooling.
• Policy implications of dual-language programs and multicultural education.

Key Contributions

Her 2018 book Motherhood Across Borders won the Erickson and Hornberger Book Award and Council of Anthropology and Education’s Book of the Year. Recent projects include analyzing Venezuelan migration impacts in Brazilian schools and pandemic-driven educational disruptions.

Awards: National Academy of Education/Spencer Foundation fellowships (dissertation and postdoctoral), National Geographic Foundation grant for Colectiva Infancias.

Teaching and Advocacy

She advises on dual-language programs for Brazilian immigrant students and collaborates with educators to address systemic inequities. Current research explores post-pandemic well-being frameworks and community resilience strategies.