Federal Deputy (Member of the Federal Chamber of Deputies) in 2013–14, 2015–18, and 2019–20. Professor Emerita at the Federal University of Juiz de Fora, where she served as Rector from 1998–2002 and 2002–2006. Holds a Ph.D. in Linguistics from University of California, Berkeley, where she was a visiting researcher in 2006–2007.