Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie

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Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie (Portuguese for Mackenzie Presbyterian University) is a private university in São Paulo, Brazil.

São Paulo Campus at night

Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie

Established:	1870, 1952 as a University
Type:	Private
Rector:	Dr. Manassés Claudino Fonteles
Location:	São Paulo, SP, Brazil
Campus:	Urban
Website:	[1]

Founded in 1870 as the American School, Mackenzie is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in Brazil. The University is regarded, both nationally and internationally, as a center of excellence having graduated numerous important names of Brazilian history. A part from its main campus in São Paulo, Mackenzie University has campus in the city of Barueri; as well as in Brasília, Campinas, Recife, Rio de Janeiro for postgraduate and continuing education. The nickname "Mackenzista" is often used to refer to Mackenzie present or former students.

[edit] History

In 1870, during the Empire, the American Presbyterian missionary Rev. George Whitehill Chamberlain and his wife Mary Annesley founded a private grammar school inside their home. The classes were held in Mrs. Chamberlain's living room, and in a few years later the "American School" was established as a center of excellence in São Paulo. The Chamberlains' American School was revolutionary for the Brazilian standards at that time: no corporal punishment on students was permitted, and both boys and girls could attend classes. Even though the Chamberlains were openly Presbyterians, students from all ethnic background, social classes, and religious denominations were welcomed. The fame of academic rigour allied to religious tolerance soon reached the United States.

In 1896, John Theron Mackenzie, an attorney from Phelps, New York, and his sisters donated US$50,000 "for the establishment of an engineering school to be built under the auspices of Mr. Chamberlain". The Mackenzie building was built next year, and the college was named in their honor.

Part of the São Paulo Campus on Maria Antônia Street

After the establishment of Mackenzie College, the institution saw rapid expansion of its activities with the creation of a School of Architecture, a School of Economics, and a Law School, gaining the status of University in 1952.

In 130 years of history, it is estimated the Mackenzie University counts 300 thousand alumni, many of them important personalities of Brazilian politics and civil society. Among them are artists such as surrealist André Breton and the modernist painter Anita Malfatti, athletes such as Brazil's most known basketball player Oscar Schmidt, car racer Émerson Fittipaldi, sea explorer Amyr Klink, and Olympic golden medalist Robert Scheidt; journalists Boris Casoy and Ney Gonçalves Dias; businessmen Márcio Cypriano (CEO Bradesco), Ivan Zurita (CEO Nestlé, Brasil) and Emerson Kapaz; jurists Álvaro Villaça Azevedo, Carlos Miguel Aidar (former Brazilian Law Society President), Eros Roberto Grau (Brazilian Supreme Court Justice), José Roberto Batochio (prominent lawyer), Sérgio Pinto Martins (judge and labour law renowned scholar), Roberto Justus , Tales Castelo Branco , Paulo Mendes da Rocha (Pritzker Prize 2006).