Role
Associate Professor, Teaching Board of Motor Sciences at the University of Verona, Sports Psychologist and former President of the Italian Association of Sport and Exercise Psychology (AIPS).
Bio
Francesca Vitali is an associate professor at the University of Verona, part of the Sports Sciences Teaching Committee. After earning a PhD in Psychology Research Methodology from the University of Genoa, she taught at the Ligurian university for a decade before moving to Verona, where she works closely with CeRiSM (Center for Research on Sport, Mountain and Health). She is one of the leading national experts in sport psychology and served as President of the Italian Association of Sport and Exercise Psychology (AIPS) from 2014 to 2016.
Her scientific and applied work focuses on the psychosocial benefits of sport and physical activity for patients, special populations, and people with and without disabilities; psychobiosocial states and motivational processes in sport and physical education; gender differences and the fight against stereotypes and gender discrimination in sport and physical activity; dual student-athlete careers and career transitions; attentional strategies and performance optimization in endurance sports; and the inclusion of people with disabilities.
She is the creator and scientific director of the "Academic Coach" program, the University of Verona's program aimed at supporting dual careers (positively combining study and sport).
A consultant for CONI and national federations such as the Italian Rugby Federation, she is also responsible for university relations at ASSIST - National Athletes Association, where she develops benchmark research on women's sport , female leadership, and the well-being of athletes, referees, coaches, and sports managers. The author of numerous international publications and editor of industry magazines, she collaborates as a teacher and expert with the School of Sport and Health.