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Position Overview

The Department of Spanish & Portuguese seeks a motivated part-time Graduate Student Assistant to provide essential support for the Brazilian Studies Association. BRASA will be coming to the University of Kansas in July of 2026 and will be housed at KU for six years. The Graduate Student Assistant will serve as a point of contact for BRASA membership and KU's local committee. This position reports directly to Prof. Luciano Tosta (incoming BRASA Executive Director), and Jennifer Duhamel (incoming Administrative Director), and supports the overall administrative operations of the Brazilian Studies Association. The one-year position begins August 1, 2026, with potential for renewal based on performance.

Job Description

100% - Program Support

• Respond to membership emails and inquiries, providing accurate information on events, membership, and resources.
• Participate in meetings with the KU local organizing committee and BRASA's executive committee, taking notes and following up on action items.
• Assist in conference planning, including abstract management, scheduling, and logistics for BRASA's biennial congresses and workshops.
• Support general organizational tasks to ensure smooth operations during KU's hosting period.
• Maintain and update BRASA's website, membership database, and social media channels with Portuguese/English content.
• Coordinate travel and reimbursements for invited speakers, board members, and KU-affiliated participants.
• Prepare reports, grant applications, and promotional materials for funding opportunities and academic outreach.
• Liaise with KU's Department of Spanish and Portuguese, and the Centers for Global and International Studies (CGIS) and Latin American Studies for interdisciplinary events on Brazilian culture, diaspora studies, and related themes.
• Manage document translation (Portuguese-English/Spanish) and archive BRASA records using tools like Google Drive.
• Assist with virtual/hybrid event moderation and post-event evaluations.

Required Qualifications

• Current enrollment in Spanish & Portuguese, Latin American Studies, Global and International Studies, or related fields, as indicated in application materials.
• Required: Strong knowledge of Portuguese; excellent written/oral communication skills, as indicated in application materials.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, Zoom, Teams, and basic web/database management; detail-oriented with strong organizational skills, as indicated in application materials.

Preferred Qualifications

• Native or near-native fluency in Portuguese, as indicated in application materials.
• Prior experience with Brazil (e.g., study abroad, research, or cultural engagement), as indicated in application materials.
• Familiarity with academic administration and/or conference organization, as indicated in application materials.

Position Requirements

During the semester term of the appointment, the student hourly must be enrolled in no fewer than 6 credit hours. For summer periods the student hourly must: (1) have been enrolled in no less than 6 hours in the past spring semester or (2) be pre-enrolled in the upcoming fall semester in no less than 6 hours or (3) be enrolled in summer session or (4) be admitted to study in the upcoming fall semester. Student Hourlies may be undergraduate or graduate students. (Exceptions granted for GRA/GTA/GA appointments DO NOT apply to Student Hourly appointments).

Employment Conditions

(1) Student employees are not eligible for remote work arrangements unless an exception is approved by the unit leadership and HR.

(2) This is an hourly/non-exempt position. A student employee cannot hold an hourly/non-exempt position and a salaried/exempt graduate or undergraduate position (GRA/GTA/GA/RUA/RGA) concurrently.

Additional Candidate Instruction

In addition to the online application, please provide the following:

• Resume/ CV
• Cover Letter addressing required/ preferred qualifications

To ensure full consideration, please apply before the application deadline of July 27th, 2026. Only complete applications will be considered.

Contact Information to Applicants

spanport@ku.edu

lucianotosta@ku.edu

Application Review Begins

02-Sep-2026

Anticipated Start Date

07-Aug-2026

Advertised Salary Range

$16.00

Primary Campus

University of Kansas Lawrence Campus

Reg/Temp

Temporary

Work Schedule

7-8 hours per week; days determined by supervisor.

Disclaimer

The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, and genetic information in the university's programs and activities. Retaliation is also prohibited by university policy. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies and is the Title IX coordinator for all KU and KUMC campuses: Associate Vice Chancellor for Civil Rights and Title IX, civilrights@ku.edu, Room 1082, Dole Human Development Center, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045, 785-864-6414, 711 TTY.