Barbara Velázquez

Velázquez has worked at Metropolitan Community College (MCC) in Omaha, Nebraska, for over 30 years, and has served as the Coordinator of International/Intercultural Education since 1991. Her current College responsibilities include intercultural education programming across a 3-campus community, hosting nearly 7,000 attendees over the 2017-18 academic year. She also leads Education Abroad initiatives, chairs the College’s Global Education Committee and hosts international visitors. Barbara has held numerous volunteer leadership roles within NAFSA including Nebraska State Representative, Region II Local Arrangement Committee Conference Co-Chair, Region II Treasurer, Region II Chair and Chair of the Regional Affairs Committee. She has also served on numerous community boards including the Omaha Public Schools Board of Education, Omaha Public Schools Foundation Board and the African Culture Connection Board of Directors. Previous to her current role at MCC, Velázquez worked as a counselor in Student Affairs, coordinated Adult Basic Education, ESL and GED classes for a local non-profit, taught at the American School in Tegucigalpa, Honduras and served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Honduras. She holds a BS from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and an MS from Creighton University.