Mrs. Barba is a psychologist and currently Director of the Scholarship Program of the National Association for Rural Youth (PANAJURU), a private non -profit foundation. One of her primary responsibilities is developing leadership programs for rural youth. Ms. Barba has spent most of her professional career working in human resource development including more than 13years in training, and human resource positions for the government of Panama. She has also been active in organizations concerned with women's issue and development and in particular increasing the political anticipation of women in Panama.

She holds the degree of Licenciado in Psychology (1979) from the University of Santa Maria La Antigua in Panama.