Sandra Barrera is a native of Colombia and has lived in Grand Island, Nebraska since 2001. She received her bachelor’s degree in business administration with a major in Accounting at La Salle University (Colombia, 1992) and a Masters in Family Financial Planning at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in 2012. Her bi-cultural background and focus on community collaboration has led her to a number of volunteer opportunities and community leadership roles.

Barrera has been working for more than 18 years with the UNL Extension office as an Extension educator with the Latino Small Business state-wide program, developing and/or growing rural Nebraska businesses with education, technical support, networking and connections. She has Assisted more than 450 startups and helped entrepreneurs with more than 600 consultations per year, connecting more than 1,500 entrepreneurs and owners’ businesses to an online community. She has facilitated integration and communication among clients and businesses, and raised awareness on existing small businesses with the Business Diversity Tour and Latino Small business Conference. 

Barrera, as an Extension educator, is leading a “Grand Island 4th Street Project," the purpose of which is to make 4th Street the best shopping street in the city, attract customers, increase sales, improve the appearance, and make it a place for tourists and community members to visit. This involves community meetings with business owners, agencies, organizations and city administration, the creation of the Business Improvement District (BID), and improvements and revitalization on this area. 

Barrera is also the founder of the Grand Island Latino Network (2005), and co-founder of McDes—Multicultural Center for Development of Education and Sports (2003), which promotes higher education and wellness for children.