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Name: Dr. Irán Barrera
Title: Professor and chair
Department: Social Work Education
Academic Degree(s):

• Ph.D., Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work, University of Texas at Arlington: Arlington, Texas.
• Ph.D., Doctorado en Filosofía con especialidad en Trabajo Social y Políticas Comparadas de Bienestar Social. Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (Monterrey, Nuevo León, México).
• M.S.W., Master of Social Work, California State University, Long Beach.

How long have you worked at Fresno State? Since 2013.

What is your most notable accomplishment in your field, and why was it important? Being part of the Robert Wood Johnson Interdisciplinary Research Leaders Program. I was able to learn about health care models in different countries and found ways to implement some of their practices in the behavioral health curriculum.

What are you most passionate about in your field and why? I am most passionate about helping people, especially those who are vulnerable. Growing up in poverty I saw and experienced firsthand what it’s like to be powerless and exposed.

What is a memorable moment you had in class, and what does that reveal about your teaching style? When a graduate student ran out of my class because she was too nervous to give an oral presentation. I followed her out to the hallway and she stated that she was insecure about her inability to pronounce English words. I shared with her a story about my first semester at Fresno City College, which changed her perspective. She went back to class and gave a great presentation. Needless to say, she graduated and years later she ran for local office, is in the public eye, and earned a very reputable reputation. A couple of years later she emails me the following, “You were right Dr. Barrera, it’s not about where you start, it’s about where you finish.”

What is the most interesting or unusual job you've ever had? I was a sales rep for Gallo wine in Los Angeles — did not last long.

What do you like to do for fun in your spare time? Work on my classic Chevy pick-ups.

What is something interesting about you that most people don’t know? As a child I worked picking tomatoes not too far from Fresno and was a former collegiate and professional baseball player.

Is there something else you would like to share that was not asked? I took acting classes at the famous Bobbie Chance Acting Studio in Hollywood.