Maria Barraza
Tucson,Arizona
Summary
Experienced Disability Access Consultant with a proven track record in providing effective solutions to remove student barriers. Possess strong management skills, successful working in collaboration with co-workers and students, to build strong relationships to ensure exceptional results. Qualifications include creative thinking and process improvement, to maximize effective outcomes. Highly self-motivated professional with outstanding organizational skills, a keen eye for detail, and excellent communication abilities. Result-oriented and goal-driven, with extensive experience working in multicultural environments.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Access Consultant
Disability Resource Center, University of Arizona
10.2021 - Current
- Provide direct support to 200+ students in the College of Science, with a focus on Psychology majors, ensuring access to academic resources and accommodations.
- Collaborate with faculty, academic advisors, and campus departments to identify and implement reasonable accommodations, to remove barriers for students.
- Facilitate campus-wide trainings and workshops on universal design, accessibility, and inclusion for university faculty, staff, and foreign universities.
- Review and evaluate confidential medical documentation and academic records to determine eligibility for services and appropriate accommodations.
- Maintain active membership with AHEAD and participate in ongoing professional development and trainings to stay current on best practices in disability services.
- Presenter at the AHEAD Conference 2024, delivering insights and strategies on study abroad accessibility, with a focus on advancing access, equity, and inclusion in higher education internationally.
- Network and collaborate with international universities to coordinate and facilitate disability accommodations for students participating in study abroad programs, ensuring equitable access and support across global academic environments.
Human Services Specialist 2
Dept. of Economic Security
01.2021 - 10.2021
- Daily use of skilled interviewing, counseling, and interacting with members and family members to develop Individual Support Plans in accordance with mandated timeliness, and document individual progress and concerns
- Research community for available resources to meet needs identified in ISP and inform member of resource options
- Facilitate meetings and program visits to assist with member/family choices
- Complete referrals for assessed/covered services and collaborate with community agencies to provide assistance and support to members and families in crisis
- Have knowledge of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), medical and behavioral health issues and terminology
- Knowledge of Federal and State statutes and agency policies and procedures relating to the care and assistance for individuals with developmental disabilities
- Conduct of all matters with confidentiality
Executive Assistant to Ambassador of Mexico
Consulate of Mexico
12.2015 - 12.2020
- Supervise and provide full office support to Ambassador, manage day-to-day projects
- Responsible for relationship building, stakeholder management and volunteer coordination, nurturing meaningful connections with key community groups
- Worked with Ambassador with the responsibility of delivering our vision and building networks with local community
- Translate and review contracts with universities, health centers, community colleges, and nonprofit organizations for the Mexican foreign ministry
- Arrange official conferences or receptions, and coordinate business agreements with national and international vendors and translate terminologies from original language to English or Spanish
- Organize detailed logistic plans for Ambassadors Travel or for foreign visitors
- Interpret meetings, teleconferences, or phone calls working with external teams as necessary
- Maintaining confidential and contact database information
- Assist in the areas of immigration, criminal, labor, civil and family law, for the protection of the rights of Mexican nationals; support in hearings held before the Arizona District Court, Tucson Division; and support in the file integration of consular assistance requests from Mexican Nationals in detention facilities within Pima and Pinal counties in Arizona, with US authorities
Sr. Project Manager
Fesenosa
12.2012 - 11.2015
- Evaluate in detail order guidelines and clarify specific requirements of product and services provided, with foreign customers and suppliers
- Translate contracts accurately and completely, in Spanish and English
- Lead conference calls, meetings and interpret for buyers and sellers, and accurately summarize detailed arrangements, to ensure business agreements
- Leadership of local and global sales team, cross-functional continuous improvement teams and projects
- Develop in addition to practice leadership abilities, and delegate procedures to work force
- Monitor and develop project time line for short- and long-term goals depending on scope
- Regulate assignment to meet budgetary goals constructed on economic breakdowns
- Management of global procurement projects driving cost saving and process standardization
Case Manager
La Frontera
10.2010 - 02.2013
- Oversee teams' health implementation of treatment plan, by reviewing patient history and translate plan for Spanish speakers
- Evaluate clients' profile plans for improvement opportunities; submit legal documentation according to court deadlines, and treatment closure procedures
- Responsible for leading anger management meeting and psychological development meetings for social anxiety, for English and Spanish speakers
- Maintain professionalism when interpreting for caseworkers during traumatic and emotional sessions with clients
- Accurately code medical services and enter data and charges into medical billing system
- Leadership of all operations related to billing and insurance policies, including development of projects
Supervisor Division of Developmental Disabilities
ResCare Homecare
06.2008 - 02.2010
- Assist Caseworkers when communicating with Spanish speaking clients
- Utilized problem solving acumen to oversee 125 bed home care, for children
- Effectively coordinated daily schedules for clients and supervised 80 employees
- Delivered exceptional high quality customer service, by accurately assessing patient needs
- Select and hire appropriate candidates for home care
Purchasing Manager
Crystal Palace
06.2003 - 06.2008
- Negotiated and maintained legal agreements for business leasing and trusted vendors
- Scouted sites and new markets for product expansion in the US and Mexico
- Responsible for the continuity of supply in all related commodities sales goals
- Lead the purchasing team (3 buyers) to comply with the operational cost and inventory level
- Negotiate purchasing and sales contracts with purchasing and sales partners in Spanish and English
- Continuous Improvement on the supply management process and quality system
- Responsible for the coordination of Cost Improvement Projects by strategic sourcing, product design change, and reduction on supplier manufacturing cost to meet corporate annual goal
- Responsible for importing and exporting documentation
Education
MBA - Business
University of Phoenix
Tucson, AZ05.2013
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ05.2007
Skills
- Team Coordination
- Task Prioritization
- Adaptability to Change
- Proficient Interpersonal Communication
- Effective Problem Solving
- Advanced Spanish Communication
Certification
ECONOMIC BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, Eller College, University of Arizona, 05/2019
Degree
MBA
Timeline
Access Consultant
Disability Resource Center, University of Arizona
10.2021 - Current
Human Services Specialist 2
Dept. of Economic Security
01.2021 - 10.2021
Executive Assistant to Ambassador of Mexico
Consulate of Mexico
12.2015 - 12.2020
Sr. Project Manager
Fesenosa
12.2012 - 11.2015
Case Manager
La Frontera
10.2010 - 02.2013
Supervisor Division of Developmental Disabilities
ResCare Homecare
06.2008 - 02.2010
Purchasing Manager
Crystal Palace
06.2003 - 06.2008
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
University of Arizona
MBA - Business
University of Phoenix
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