Barbara was born in Argentina and grew up in Germany, Latin America and Spain. She got her High School Diploma (Abitur) in Germany, studied Biology at the University of Marburg (Hessen) and did her PhD at the University of Mainz (Rhineland-Palatinate). She has three kids and lived with her family almost five years in Michigan, where she worked as Spanish teacher at the Montessori School of Clarkston.

In May 2025 Barbara and her husband moved to Naperville. She very much looks forward to start working at GLSN, to pass on her German language skills, the German culture and proudly being part of the GLSN community.