Originally from Yorktown, New York, Dr. Barna came to GMU via New Jersey, Maryland, Texas and Georgia. She received her bachelor's degree in Sociology from Drew University, worked at Educational Testing Service, taught high school math in Virginia, then went on to complete her Ph.D. in Counseling from the University of Maryland. Adrienne interned and worked at the Counseling and Psychological Services Center at the University of Texas at Austin and worked in the Counseling Center at Emory University in Atlanta before coming to GMU in 1985. She is a licensed clinical psychologist. As Associate Director for the Counseling and Psychological Services, Dr. Barna manages the psychological and emergency services as well as other administrative activities.

With her specialty in college counseling, Dr. Barna has an eclectic approach that draws from cognitive and psychodynamic models. Her counseling focuses on thought processes as well as interpersonal and family issues. The goals of counseling are to help the student develop more realistic thoughts and, correspondingly, to learn more effective behaviors and interpersonal skills. Dr. Barna has experience and interest in student development issues which she applies to her counseling and programs. She has conducted workshops and groups on topics such as relationships, depression, sexual abuse and sexual assault recovery and ADD.