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About Rebeca Barrios

Rebeca Barrios has spent more than two decades building human resources operations across international diplomacy, energy, finance, and higher education — the last twelve years leading HR for one of the University of Central Florida's flagship research centers. She brings a rare, cross-cultural vantage point to every HR relationship: native fluency in Spanish, language study in French, Basque, and Italian, and firsthand experience translating and adapting business communications across cultures.

Her path into higher education HR wasn't a straight line. She began her career in Human Resources at Vetco, supporting the company's petroleum operations in Venezuela, then spent more than five years as Human Resources Manager for the Delegation of the Basque Government to the United States in New York — directing HR, coordinating international-employee immigration processes, and planning cultural and diplomatic events with the Basque Government Delegate and Spanish diplomatic representatives, including engagements at the United Nations. In 2014, she joined the University of Central Florida's Office of Research, where she was promoted to Human Resources Coordinator III supporting the NanoScience Technology Center, the Florida Space Institute, and the Burnett Honors College.

Today, Rebeca serves as the primary HR partner for roughly 70 faculty, researchers, postdoctoral scholars, and staff, managing everything from full-cycle recruitment and compensation to the international scholar immigration matters — including H-1B, O-1, and J-1 petitions — that keep global research talent moving. She's known for building trusted, hands-on relationships with faculty and leadership across complex, multicultural organizations, and for bringing that same steady, detail-driven advocacy to every employee she supports.

Rebeca Barrios

Higher Education HR - STEM and Research Talent Operations - Oviedo, FL

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