Hugo Ferrinho Lopes and Alberto Cunha selected for Visiting Professors at Georgetown University

Professors Hugo Lopes and Alberto Cunha will be the next Visiting Professors at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. The two Portuguese academics will have the opportunity to teach for one semester each, at one of the most prestigious universities in the world.

The competition for Visiting Professor at Georgetown University is a joint initiative of FLAD and the Department of Government of Georgetown University, which annually allows one or two Portuguese Professors the unique opportunity to teach at one of the most reputable institutions of higher education in the United States, and a world reference in the areas of Political Science and International Relations. Those selected will be able to benefit from the University’s resources, developing partnerships and its international curriculum.

For the academic year 2026/2027, the jury composed of the former President of FLAD, Nuno Morais Sarmento, Michael Baum, Administrator of FLAD, Pedro Magalhães, Researcher at the Institute of Social Sciences of the University of Lisbon and Lívia Franco, Professor at the Institute of Political Studies of the Catholic University of Portugal, selected:

Hugo Ferrinho Lopes is a Visiting Assistant Professor at Iscte – University Institute of Lisbon and at the School of Economics, Management and Political Science of the University of Minho. He is also an Associate Researcher at the Institute of Social Sciences of the University of Lisbon, where he completed his PhD after stints at the European University Institute, in Florence, and at the Spanish Higher Council for Scientific Research, in Madrid. Her research analyzes how political parties react to internal pressures and how marginalized groups, especially young people, participate in political institutions, highlighting the role of youth parties.

In the Autumn Semester of 2026, he will teach the subject “Youth and Politics”. This course aims to analyze the relationship of young people with politics, including participation, attitudes and involvement with parties and social movements. It also addresses the political representation of young people and the impact of institutional reforms, combining theory and international case studies.

Alberto Cunha is a visiting assistant professor at the University of Lisbon and an associate researcher at IDN and IPRI. He holds a PhD in European Studies from King’s College London, and a Master’s degree in International Relations (University of Lisbon) and Management (Catholic University of Portugal). He has taught at two universities in Berlin and was a researcher at IEP Berlin. He also worked at the Portuguese embassy in the USA and at the Portuguese representation at the OECD. He is the author of six academic articles and regularly collaborates on political publications. Since 2025, he has participated as a guest commentator on CNN Portugal, NOW, SIC and RTP. He also has books in preparation with the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation and IDN.

During the Spring Semester of 2027 he will teach the subject The European Union and Global Governance in a Multipolar World. The aim is to analyse the role of the European Union in an increasingly multipolar international system, exploring its foreign policy and the way it exercises structural, normative and market power in global relations. It combines theoretical foundations with an applied public policy perspective, addressing the EU’s external action instruments and the dynamics between European institutions and Member States. Throughout the semester, students analyse concrete cases and critically reflect on the role and limits of the EU in the 21st century international order.

Congratulations and good work!