Ocds, Irma Silva- Barbeau: - Irma Silva- Barbeau, OCDS, PhD., nee Irma do Socorro dos Santos e Silva, was born on the island of Brava, Cape Verde Islands, West Africa, and immigrated to the United States with her family when she was thirteen years old. She graduated from University of Massachusetts and has a Ph.D. in International Nutrition from Cornell University She worked for over twenty five years in the area of International Nutrition and Development and traveled throughout the world, including the Cape Verde Islands. She currently lives in Southwest Virginia, with her husband and two daughters.