Hello! I am Isabela, or just Bela, currently a third-year Ph.D. student in the Political Science program at Rice. I was born and raised in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. I earned my B.A. in Economics and Political Science from the University of Denver in 2023. Before joining Rice, I worked as a research fellow at the Colorado Capitol to advance research-informed policy on environmental justice. My research today lies at the intersection between political behavior, political economy, and gender, with a regional focus on Latin America. 

At Rice, I also serve as the President of the Brazilian Student Association. When I’m not working, I enjoy going to the boxing classes at the Rec, baking brigadeiros (a type of Brazilian chocolate truffles!) for my friends and me, playing the guitar, experimenting with new artsy hobbies (my current favorite is oil pastel painting), and dancing. My favorite thing about Rice is the variety of events that help bring the community together. I am looking forward to helping incoming students with their transition as they begin their Rice journey.