About the PPICVS
The Republic of Cabo Verde is a small nation with a global reach, and, for more than 20 years, Bridgewater State University has enjoyed a strong, enduring relationship with the island nation.
Ten years ago, we established the Pedro Pires Institute for Cape Verdean Studies (PPICVS), tangible evidence of our commitment to further the connectivity between and among Cape Verdeans living on the islands or in the Diaspora as well as for anyone interested in all things Cabo Verdean.
Education, language, literature, culture, the visual and performing arts, history and projects are the means by which the PPICVS helps to create, maintain, and grow this greater connectivity.
The core of PPICVS’s mission to serve is clear through the wealth of information and opportunities you will find in the pages of our website – opportunities to participate, to learn, and to share your own stories about your experiences, your background, your memories and aspirations. Read, too, the stories of your compatriots.
Naming the Center
Who is Pedro Pires? Why was the Institute named after him?
Credited with helping bring democracy to Cabo Verde, Pedro Pires became prime minister just three days into the African archipelago’s new era as an independent nation.
A longstanding public servant, he recognized Bridgewater State’s role in supporting his country’s development and forging connections with the large concentration of Cape Verdeans living in southeastern Massachusetts.
An institute that bears his name now plays an important role in accomplishing those goals. Learn more about Pedro Pires in Behind the Names +
Our Staff
Angelo Barbosa
Director, Pedro Pieres Institute for Cape Verdean Studies
Bridgewater State University
508-531-1286
ANGELO BARBOSA was born in Cabo Verde, in Assomada, Island of Santiago. Mr. Barbosa holds a BA in Management and Administration by Fundação Getulio Vargas, Sao Paulo Brazil, and a Master of Science in Computer Science from Ball State University, Indiana, in the United States.
In 2019, he became the director of the Pedro Pires Institute for Cape Verdean Studies (PPICVS) at Bridgewater State University. As director, he has reached out to address the converging needs of the Republic of Cabo Verde, Bridgewater State University (BSU), the Cabo Verdean Diaspora, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Prior to his tenure at PPICVS, he worked for 20 years in public administration; served for seven years as CIO of the University of Cabo Verde’s first Board of Directors; and developed special projects with public schools in Cabo Verde in order to create opportunities for students to be exposed to technology, development tools, and solutions for real-world problems.
His diverse experiences in the professional and education sectors prepared him well to lead the PPICVS into its next decade as he strives to foster the most vigorous, sustainable, and mutually beneficial relationship between a country and an institution of higher learning anywhere in the world.
Joao J. Rosa, Ph.D., Associate Professor of TESOL, Department of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
Dr. Rosa was the first Director of the Pedro Pires Institute for Cape Verdean Studies and served from its inception until 2019. He was instrumental in designing and deploying all the major programs run by the Institute, especially by helping to develop the Cape Verdean Studies Minor. Dr. Rosa has been teaching the Cape Verdean language at the university for many years.
Sandra St. Laurent, Staff Assistant Pedro Pires Institute for Cape Verdean Studies (PPICVS)
Sandra St. Laurent was born in Lisbon, Portugal. Sandra holds a BA in Political Science and International Relations by Universidade Nova de Lisboa in Lisbon, Portugal.
In 2016 Sandra moved to the United States to work at the Consulate of Portugal in New Bedford where she worked for 5 years, working closely with the Portuguese community providing a wide range of services from document processing, to Portuguese citizenship, Portuguese social security benefits eligibility, among others. While assuming this position Sandra also had close contact with the Cape Verdean community regarding visa processing.
Sandra is currently finishing her master's degree in Human Resources Management, at Fitchburg State University in MA.