Brenda Barrio is an Assistant Vice President for Research and Innovation in the Division of Research and Innovation and Associate Professor in Rehabilitation and Health Services at the University of North Texas. Her research focuses on the areas of disproportionality of students from marginalized communities and finding equitable and accessible ways to address this issue at the K-12 and higher education levels. Dr. Barrio has more than 20 years of teaching experience including, graduate and undergraduate education and K-5th bilingual and inclusive education in Texas.

She is also the co-founder of the UNT ELEVAR and WSU ROAR post-secondary education programs for young adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities and is the Past-President of the Council for Learning Disabilities.