Lemann Fellows

Isabella Pereira is a Master of International Affairs candidate at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), concentrating in Human Rights and Humanitarian Policy. She is a fellow in the International Fellows Program and a scholar of the Lemann Foundation, the Central European Foundation, and the P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship.
She holds a degree in International Relations from the Federal Fluminense University (UFF) and a specialization in Politics and Society from the Institute of Social and Political Studies (IESP-UERJ), where her research focused on climate mobility in Brazil.
Professionally, Isabella spent over three years at the Columbia Global Center in Rio de Janeiro, where she led key initiatives, including the Amazon Collaboratory and the Columbia Women’s Leadership Network Program. She also served as a researcher at the South American Political Observatory (OPSA), monitoring Colombia’s foreign policy.
At SIPA, she has worked with the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at the Columbia Climate School and is currently interning with the Global Centre for Climate Mobility, contributing to research and policy development in Latin America and the Caribbean. She also served as a Teaching Assistant for the course International Human Rights Law.
After graduating, Isabella plans to work in the non-profit sector, advancing efforts to mainstream climate mobility in global policy agendas. Her interests include migration, climate change, Latin America, and gender equity.

Mariana Valle works at the intersection of technology, media, and public trust, focusing on how AI and digital platforms reshape democracy and information ecosystems. She brings seven years of experience in strategic communications and ecosystem-building across Brazil's social innovation sector, where she led communications strategy on innovation, sustainability and education for corporations, philanthropies, and entrepreneurs at Quintessa and the Ayrton Senna Institute, Brazil's largest education nonprofit. She also co-founded IYD Brasil, the world's largest movement for the UN's International Youth Day, reaching over 600,000 people,
Mariana graduated from Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) with a Master of Public Administration in Technology, Media, and Communications, where her work centered on tech governance, information integrity, and media development. During graduate school, she served as Graduate Consultant for Omidyar Network on AI and the Future of Work, and completed internships at the NYC Mayor's Office and Momentum - Journalism & Tech Task Force, working on tech policy and journalism sustainability.

Master of Public Administration (MPA) candidate at Columbia University, with a specialization in Economic Development and Sustainable Finance. During his MPA, was consultant at Bridging Ventures, UNCDF and Kumulus Water. His 10-year professional journey combines strategic management and social impact, with experience at organizations such as Falconi, Fundação Lemann, and Motriz. He holds a specialization in Public Management from Insper and a Bachelor's degree in International Relations from the University of São Paulo. José is dedicated to promoting inclusive environments, fostering leadership, and addressing Brazil's most pressing public challenges.

Julia Aronchi is a Lemann Fellow and M.A. candidate in International Educational Development at Teachers College, Columbia University, with an emphasis on Multilingual and Decolonial Education. Her work bridges education, communication, and social impact, with a focus on Human Rights, Social Responsibility, and Global Citizenship.
Her research examines how global and local frameworks, policies, and classroom practices shape citizenship education. Drawing on political economy and decolonial perspectives, she analyzes how power relations influence civic formation and engagement among youth. She is especially interested in how Global Citizenship Education frameworks are implemented in Brazil and how Global South perspectives can inform more equitable educational approaches.
As an educator, Julia has taught social-emotional learning, life skills, human rights, and citizenship curricula to middle and high school students in São Paulo and New York City. Her work supports young people in developing critical thinking, agency, and a sense of social responsibility through participatory and student-centered learning experiences.
Before transitioning to education, Julia spent over a decade in senior leadership roles in corporate affairs at multinational companies, where she led ESG communications, stakeholder engagement, diversity, and inclusion initiatives. This experience informs her understanding of institutional dynamics and strengthens her commitment to advancing equity across sectors.
As part of the Lemann Community, in her upcoming doctoral studies at the University of Maryland - College Park, she is committed to fostering connections between research, practice, and leadership, and to continuing to contribute to initiatives that expand access to high-quality, socially engaged, and culturally responsive education in Brazil and beyond."

Giovanna Querido (b. 1998, São Paulo, Brazil) is a Brazilian cultural worker dedicated to exploring the intersection of art and politics, with a focus on the institutional conditions of artistic labour in art museums. She is currently pursuing an MA in Arts Administration at Columbia University on a full scholarship from the Lemann Foundation. Previously, she earned a BA in Social Communications (Journalism) and an MA in Arts and Cultural Management from the University of São Paulo. Querido serves as Assistant Curator for the Brazilian Pavilion at the 61st International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia (2026) and for the 39th Panorama of Brazilian Art: After It’s All Said at MAM São Paulo.

Emy Yamamoto is from São Paulo, Brazil and holds a degree in Business Enterprise Management and Psychology from Wake Forest University. She has experience across cultural institutions, nonprofits, and educational technology, including roles at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and Uber. Her interests center on how statistics, innovation, and data-informed approaches can strengthen learning processes and expand accessibility. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Learning Analytics at Teachers College, Columbia University, where she serves as an Administrative Fellow in Graduate Student Life and Development, a Research Assistant at the ELDA Lab, and a Global Policy Fellow in the Education, Environment & Sustainable Development cluster.

Karina Altavila is a public policy professional with over 7 years of experience at the intersection of urban innovation, education, and government consulting across the Americas. She holds a Master's in Public Administration (Urban Policy) from Columbia University's SIPA as a Lemann Fellow, and a Bachelor's in International Relations from PUC-SP.
A 2025-2026 Community Planning Fellow at the Fund for the City of New York, Karina has built her career around making government work better for people. She has supported global initiatives to scale public policies and strengthen data-driven governance, advised state education ministries in Brazil on expanding access to full-time public schools, and taught in vulnerable public schools through Ensina Brasil (Teach For All).
At the heart of her work is an interest in how urban innovation travels across cities and contexts. Karina is driven to strengthen the international urban community by creating peer-sharing opportunities that help cities around the world adopt and adapt one another's most innovative practices."

Physician-scientist specializing in the intersection of clinical medicine, epidemiology, and artificial intelligence. Master of Public Health (MPH) candidate at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health with Lemann Fellowship. Previously Medical Degree from the University of São Paulo (USP).

Vivian Martins Bertelli Costa is a Master of Public Administration in Development Practice candidate at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA). She brings over 13 years of professional experience spanning startups, NGOs, innovation consultancies, and state government agencies, always working at the crossroads of technology, public policy, and social impact in Brazil.
In diverse contexts and sectors, Vivian has built products for civic participation platforms working with city governments, managed recruitment tools for a public sector NGO, supported statewide digital education delivery through a government IT company, and led behavioral science-driven interventions to reduce university dropout.
Growing up in Brazil, Vivian witnessed firsthand how access to quality education and responsive public services is unevenly distributed. While working, she came to understand the impact of tools, knowledge, and capacity as real leverage for social change within government and across partnerships. This conviction drove her to pursue graduate studies at SIPA.
At Columbia, she is developing the analytical and policy frameworks to pursue a goal she has long carried: finding new ways to connect Brazil with the international resources, financing mechanisms, and evidence-based models that could meaningfully reduce inequality at home. She founded ClaseViva, a digital education initiative for multigrade classrooms in rural Latin America, recognized by the SIPA Global Policy Challenge. Her internship with Imago Grassroots in Peru was another opportunity to work in the field, supporting government capacity-building in communities where policy and practice rarely meet. And through Brazil Talks, the academic series she participates in at Columbia, she is making space for the debates that bring important conversations and advancements in Brazil to an international audience. 

Eduardo Avila is a Lemann Fellow and graduate student in the MPA in Development Practice program at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), specializing in financing energy transitions for sustainable development. Hailing from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Eduardo holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. During his undergraduate studies, Eduardo co-founded and led two student-led associations focused on financial markets and energy and technology, connecting the students with faculty and professional markets through seminars, conferences, competitions, and study groups.
Professionally, after a brief internship at an investment bank, Eduardo led Revolusolar, a Rio de Janeiro-based non-profit organization, from 2020 to 2025, advancing solar energy access in low-income communities, driving sustainable development, and energy equity. During this period, he was responsible for designing the organization's business model, establishing partnerships, and raising capital for the projects.
In one of its pilot initiatives, Revolusolar led the establishment of the first solar energy cooperative in a Brazilian favela. For this project, Eduardo was selected as a finalist for the Latin America and the Caribbean region in the 2020 UNEP Young Champions of the Earth. 
As a Lemann Fellow, Eduardo leverages SIPA's training to bridge innovative financing mechanisms with scalable clean energy solutions for emerging markets. His work focuses on mobilizing public-private partnerships and philanthropic capital to power Brazil's green transition and beyond. Previously, he spearheaded Revolusolar's initiatives to deploy solar systems, impacting thousands while fostering local entrepreneurship.
Eduardo is committed to advancing Brazil's leadership in global sustainability. His passion for equitable energy access reflects the Lemann Foundation's mission to empower transformative leaders for Brazil's future.

Julia is an engineer and development practitioner whose career bridges technical rigor with a deep commitment to reducing inequality through better infrastructure and public policy.
She began her professional journey as a civil engineer, graduating from UNESP – Ilha Solteira. After graduating, Julia built a seven‑year career in the energy sector, working across engineering, supply chain, and ESG, and gaining a holistic understanding of how sustainability frameworks influence corporate decision‑making. She later completed a postgraduate specialization in oil, gas, and renewable energy through Fundação Dom Cabral and the Brazilian Petroleum Institute, deepening her expertise in energy systems and the transition toward cleaner technologies.
Motivated by a desire to work directly on global development challenges, Julia pivoted toward public policy and sustainable development by pursuing a Master of Public Administration in Development Practice (MPA‑DP) at Columbia University.
Julia is a graduate student at Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs, focusing on energy transitions, climate finance, and development economics: studying blended finance mechanisms for emerging economies and advancing her understanding of energy policy on South American regional interconnection projects. She aims to build a career that connects technical expertise with scalable policy solutions, contributing to more resilient energy systems and inclusive development across the Global South.