Magda Silva

Magda Silva is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Romance Studies at Duke University, serving as Director of the Duke Portuguese Language Program and the Brazil Summer Study Abroad Program in Rio de Janeiro and the Amazon. She holds an M.A. (1995) and Ph.D. (2000) from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, alongside another M.A. (2000). Her interdisciplinary research spans Environmental Studies, Latin American Studies, Law, Business, and Education, with a focus on integrating cultural and linguistic dimensions.

Dr. Silva is actively involved with civic and cultural organizations, including the Duke Consortium of Latin American Studies, Duke Brazil Initiative, Global Brazil Lab, and the Brazilian Association of the Triangle. She advises the Duke Brazil Student Group and has been recognized as one of Duke’s top 5% undergraduate instructors (Dean McLendon, 2010).

Her scholarship emphasizes Portuguese language pedagogy, indigenous literature, and intercultural communication. Courses taught include advanced colloquial Portuguese, intermediate Brazilian Portuguese, and elementary Portuguese. Her recent publications explore real-time cultural analysis and innovative teaching methodologies.