She has led IPPF Western Hemisphere Region since 2003. Under Dr. Barroso’s direction, the organization now combines quality health services with powerful advocacy in defense of sexual and reproductive rights.

Previously, she served for twelve years as Director of the Population & Reproductive Health Program of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, funding hundreds of non-governmental organizations in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Her role helped to bring the voices of women in the developing world to international policy fora.

She has been the Hubert Humphrey Distinguished Professor at Macalester College and professor of sociology at the University of São Paulo.

As a senior researcher with the Chagas Foundation, Dr. Barroso had a pioneer role in creating Brazil's first and foremost women's studies center.

She is the author of numerous books and articles, both in academic journals and in the popular press.

She was a founding member of DAWN, a network of Third World women, and of the Funders Network on Population, Reproductive Health and Rights.

Dr. Barroso holds a PhD in Social Psychology from Columbia University and has been a Visiting Scholar at Cornell University.