Joana Fonseca

Dr. Joana Fonseca is a Senior Lecturer in Physical Education and Sport Coaching at St Mary's University since 2015. She serves as Course Lead for the MSc Professional Development and contributes to multiple undergraduate/postgraduate programs including MSc Performance Football Coaching and MRes Coaching Science. Her research focuses on coach/teacher education, professional identity development, and innovative pedagogical approaches in sport. She also actively teaches swimming to young learners (3-12 years).

Her academic interests explore how educators develop professional identities through academic and non-academic experiences, and how social interactions influence pedagogical practices. Key areas include professional learning environments, complexity in teaching/coaching, and cross-institutional collaboration.

• Recipient of significant grants including a €22,000 HEFCE Catalytic Fund project on peer mentoring
• Author of peer-reviewed articles on minority student experiences and coaching philosophy
• Delivered invited lectures at institutions like University of Porto and international conferences

Her work emphasizes bridging theory/practice gaps in sport coaching education, with a focus on reflective practice and embodied learning strategies