Board of Directors

I am an Associate Professor in Values and Experiential Learning in the Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Management.

My research, teaching and service are at the juncture of education (formal and non-formal), health and well being (sport / kinesiology) and recreation (outdoor experiential learning). Prior to coming to The Pennsylvania State University in 2016, I worked in academia in the UK for 20 years.

The main authors who have influenced my thinking are Aristotle, Plato, John Dewey, Charles Taylor, Alasdair MacIntyre and Kurt Hahn. My research is primarily qualitative and/or philosophical in nature although, in recent years, I have collaborated with others to undertake mixed methods research. My research was entered in the UK RAE 2001, 2008 and REF 2014.

Following 17 years working at The University of Edinburgh I moved to the USA in 2016 having accepted a position at The Pennsylvania State University. I am committed to high quality engaging teaching and learning, addressing inequality, widening participation and education that inspires.

My primary research areas are Outdoor experiential leadership, expeditions, sail training and snowsports education.

I am delighted to be a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (FRGS), Fellow of the Explorers Club (FEC) of New York, Inaugural Fellow of the Young Explorers Trust (FYET) and Inaugural Fellow of the British Exploring Society (FBES). I remain passionate about exploration – especially for young people.

I work with BASI in the UK and PSIA-AASI in USA. I am a passionate skier, mountaineer and canoeist and have a CrossFit addiction.

Rado Pišot, PhD is Director of the Science and Research Center of Koper – Slovenia (SRC). He is the founding father of the Institute for Kinesiology Research, SRC. His research focuses on the study of motor development and motor learning as well as diagnostics and research of skeletal muscles, with emphasis on monitoring the adaptability of skeletal muscles in different environments and lifestyle characteristics.

His research achievements have been published in many internationally renowned journals (>120 scientific papers; >1200 citations). He is the author of numerous scientific monographs, manuals and textbooks in the field of alpine skiing. His book “Skiing is a game” was adapted, overbuilt and published in five different languages (2011 – 2020). He has managed several national and international projects. He was the initiator and president of the organizing committee of ten international congresses “Child in Motion” (2000 – 2020) and president of the Scientific committee of the SPE BALKAN SKI Congresses (2017 – 2020). He is chief editor and member of editorial committees of several international scientific journals. He has been awarded for his research work and pedagogical achievements at national and international level. He is an avid skier and ski instructor, ISIA licensed (1992 -) and MOU – CTT – European Common Training Test for Ski Instructors (CTT) (2010-). He is alpine examiner and member of Executive board of SITAS Ski Instructors and Trainer Association of Slovenia (1998-). Since 2014 he is member of the Expert Council of the Olympic Committee of Slovenia and member of the International commission of NOC – National Olympic committee, Slovenia (1918-).

Dave Schuiling is PSIA-AASI’s Director of Education and Credentialing. An alpine and snowboard examiner with PSIA-AASI, he has his Alpine, Snowboard and Telemark Level III certifications and his Children’s Specialist 2 and Freestyle Specialist 2 credentials. He’s an avid water skier, mountain biker and tennis player when not playing on snow.

Gerhard is Specialist Inspector for Physical Education, Sports & Health at the Directorate of Education in Lower Austria. He was a former member of the Ski- and Snowboard Instructor Team of the University of Education. He is president oft he Austrian Association Snowsports at Schools and Universities. Beneath skiing and snowboarding in winter he likes mountain biking, endurance sports and windsurfing.

Assoc Prof. Petar Iankov PhD is Head of Department of Snow Sports Instructors at the Sports University of Bulgaria- National Sports Academy.

He is the Chairman of the Board of the Association of Snow Sports Instructiors in the country – Bulgarian Ski School.

Chairman of the Organizing Committee Interski Congress 2019.

Interski Ski School is a great tradition of Interski International, showing the social commitment of the organization.

During the Interski Congress 2019 one hundred thirty-six children from disadvantaged families in the region were trained in skiing and snowboarding.

The aim of the training is not only to ignite children’s passion for outdoor sports and in particular skiing and snowboarding, but also to give them basic skills. For this reason, unlike previous editions of the congress the children trained during Interski 2019 did not change every day, but were the same from beginning to the end.

Thanks to the joint efforts of the local authorities, the resort Pamporovo and ski instructors, the children were transported every day from schools to the resort for next two-hour session on snow.

The organization of Interski Ski School also included the provision of equipment for the children. It will be used for their training in the coming years. Another novelty in the Interski School – the training should not stop with the suspension of the Congress.

The kids will continue to ski during next 4 years thanks to a fundraising campaign organized for their benefit.

Although the congress is held every four years, this time it won’t actually wait that long, because these little skiers and snowboarders will „hold’’ part of it every year.

Vanessa is a member of the scientific staff at the Department of Sport Science with the focus of exercise science and teacher training.

She is a passionate skiier and athlete. When not travelling the world competing on an Ultimate Frisbee field, she can likely be found in the great outdoors  – or the CrossFit Gym.

Åsa is a Senior lecturer in outdoor education and learning. Her research is ethnographic from a student perspective. It explains the learning processes that take shape in school programmes in friluftsliv education in Swedish highschools.

She is a passionate skier, mountaineer, mountain biker and canoeist.

Klas is an advocate skier and embraces the great outdoors all year around. Up until spring 2021 has been a Lecturer at Linnaeus University and is still passing on his knowledge as a professional ski instructor in Vail, USA. Further, he was President of IVSS 2007-2019.