Gisele Barreto Fetterman speaks at Slippery Rock University on Wednesday, April 5, evening about many aspects of her life including the effect of her husband becoming a U.S. senator. Eddie Trizzino/Butler Eagle

SLIPPERY ROCK — Gisele Barreto Fetterman identifies herself an advocate. For this reason she said she does not introduce herself as the wife of U.S. Sen. John Fetterman — but introduces him as her husband.

Barreto Fetterman spoke at Slippery Rock University Wednesday, April 5, evening about her work in founding two nonprofits addressing food insecurity, becoming a volunteer firefighter at age 40 and emigrating to the United States from Brazil at a young age.

When students in the audience asked how she can maintain her scheduled as an advocate, a mom and more, Barreto Fetterman attributed some of her energy to her attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. But she also is driven to use her voice to make life better for others.

“I think we all have gifts and we all have something to offer,” Barreto Fetterman said. “I want to be in everything, anything I care about. I function best when I am overwhelmed.”