Manuella Barbosa Braga plans to work as an international diplomat who travels the world and advocates economically for underserved populations. “I especially want to help women and girls around the world find avenues for financial independence — I want to educate and empower them,” she says. “To do that, I need to understand economic policies and gain a better understanding of the way people around the world live.”
Braga, an economics and international studies double major, graduates on May 2. She says UM-Dearborn opened a pathway toward her goals. “This was once just a dream, graduating from a prestigious U.S. college and wearing the cap and gown,” says Braga, who’s in the Honors Program. “It’s now my reality.”
An international student from Brazil, Braga came to UM-Dearborn in 2022 to gain a global education that was a long way from home in terms of miles — more than 4,500 — and culture. Growing up, she says she rarely left her hometown of João Pessoa, a coastal city in northeastern Brazil, but she always wished to see other parts of the world. “Attending UM-Dearborn gave me the opportunity,” she says.
During her time at the university, Braga participated in a semester-long study abroad trip to Europe where she met diplomats and political figures. She attended Vytautas Magnus University in Lithuania in winter 2025, taking classes in their World Politics and Economy program. “I now have the start of a network in Europe,” she says. “I visited nine different countries while there. When I was in Prague, I was literally taking a picture at the Charles Bridge and I saw someone that I recognized. I couldn’t figure out exactly why I recognized the person — until I realized it was former German Chancellor Angela Merkel. I went up to her to introduce myself and we had a nice conversation. It meant a lot to me to meet a world leader who’s a woman.”
Braga’s UM-Dearborn student experiences also included working as an economic development intern for the City of Dearborn, tutoring students in economics courses as a supplemental instructor, and completing the professional language and cross-cultural competency certificate in Spanish.
“The people at UM-Dearborn make dreams come true. If you want to accomplish something while on campus, just let someone know. I said that I wanted to do a study abroad, but I didn’t have the money to do it,” she says. “Instead of telling me ‘I’m not your fairy godmother,’ Director of Global Engagement Scott Riggs looked at the programs available and he found me the perfect fit.” Braga’s study abroad in Lithuania was fully covered by a European Union scholarship. Learn more about UM-Dearborn’s Study Abroad programs on the M-Navigator website.
Braga also received a global education on UM-Dearborn’s campus. Her two best college friends are from Egypt and Lebanon. She’s met people from the U.S. and India through the Economics Club. And two of her favorite faculty members — Professor of Economics Ilir Miteza and Professor of Economics Natalia Czap — are from Albania and Russia, respectively. “Everyone I’ve met here is open about cultural differences, both asking and sharing. I realized right away that people here cherish differences and don't look at it as a bad thing. We see it as a strength,” she says. “This is the type of university I was looking for."
Braga initially set her sights on a U.S. education when she was 12, after watching the American comedy Legally Blonde. Braga liked how the movie made colleges in the U.S. look like fun and how the main character succeeded in a male-dominated field while being authentically herself. “She did law. Economics is a male-dominated field too. I feel like we have things in common.” After a pause, Braga, who is wearing a pink suit jacket, adds: “I also really like pink. Elle wore a lot of pink.”
When choosing a university, Braga selected UM-Dearborn for its academic reputation and affordability, as well as the fact that she has an aunt in Dearborn. Braga lived with her for the first year. Even with extended family in the area, Braga says the transition was difficult. “In my first year at UM-Dearborn, I had to learn how to live away from everything and everyone I was used to. I struggled financially and emotionally, and admittedly thought about giving up — but while here, so far away from home, I found a new support system at UM-Dearborn,” she says. “From the very beginning of my journey, I learned that no one does anything alone and how important it is to build a community. Faculty, staff, and fellow students became friends along the way and helped me to get through every step of this journey."
Among her many activities, Braga works as a student office assistant in the Department of Social Sciences, volunteers at Dearborn Support, served as president of La Mezcla Hispanic Culture Club and president of the Economics Club, and received honors that include the Student Leadership Award from the Economics Department and multiple UM-Dearborn Writing Awards.
To celebrate Braga’s graduation, her friends are making a cake decorated with images of world leaders. “I told them to make sure to include women on it,” she says. Her family will travel to Dearborn to watch her walk across the stage at commencement. “This is their success too. They taught me not to give up, to be kind, to treat anyone with respect, and most importantly, to embrace challenges and fight for what I want,” Braga says.
She’s in the process of applying for positions with an economics focus. She plans to get one year of experience working in the U.S. prior to relocating for an international relations graduate program. She thinks her next stop will be in Europe, but she’s open to going wherever opportunity takes her. “I'm excited for graduation because I’m ready to be done with all of the assignments. But I’m not ready to leave the people here. This is a welcoming place, a home,” she says. “No matter where I end up in the world, UM-Dearborn will be there right alongside me.”
Story by Sarah Tuxbury
