Simona completed a BSc in Sport Sciences (1995), a MSc in Public Health – Health and Fitness (2004), and a PhD in Social Science – Sports Science and Education (2012).
She has a full-time appointment as Associate Professor and Programme Leader (academic coordinator) for several study programmes at the Lithuanian Sports University since 2004. At the same time, she is a Programme Director of EuropeActive’s accredited vocational training school – ActiveTraining and member of Technical Expert Group (TEG) at EuropeActive, Brussels (Belgium). Simona worked in the TEG for creating EuropeActive Standards EQF Level 5: Pregnancy and Postnatal Exercise Specialist (2016) and updating EQF Level 4: Personal Trainer (2018).
Simona has a wide experience with participation (as National Coordinator) in several European Projects: Social Dialogue in the Active Leisure Sector – DIAL (2014), ALCIS – Promoting Action Learning for Children in School (2016, 2015), Brighter Side of Exercise (2016-2017), Enriched Sport Activities – ESA (2016-2019), Let’s #BEACTIVE (2018-2021), Communities of Practice for Healthy Lifestyle (COP4HL) (2018-2021), New Health Programme (2020-2023). She was a Visiting Professor at the Latvian Academy of Physical Education and Sport in 2020-2021.
Research interests focus in the areas of Health Education, Body Image in Sport, Weight Control and Exercising Behaviour, Lifestyle and Physical Activity Motivation, Fitness Testing, Physical Activity among children, adults, elderly and special population (pregnancy and postnatal period).
Simona is a personal trainer, group fitness instructor, motivator, educator, author of articles, books; guest speaker at the Sports, Health and Fitness conferences and presenter of fitness sector across Lithuania and Europe. She is an International Educator at the NirvanaFitness®, Flow Coach, Master Trainer at the American Councl on Exercise (ACE, USA).
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