Spotlight Series: Maria Gallo, PhD
'Spotlight' is a monthly series from the CSPA EDIA committee to highlight various members or people in our community who are showing a commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility.
“Teaching is a lifelong learning process. There is always something to learn when you are an educator. The world is always changing, and so you need to adapt and grow with it otherwise you become extinct.”
Maria Gallo is a Teaching Professor in the School of Kinesiology at the University of British Columbia, where she instructs undergraduate and graduate students in the area of human health and sport performance. Over the past ten years she have been involved in coach education. Maria is the Director of a Masters in High Performance Coaching and Technical Leadership: a program she created to enhance the formal education of coaches and technical leaders in Canada. In that program, she instructs in the areas of Performance Planning and High Performance Sport Inquiry.
When we caught up with Maria to find out more about her and the work she does, here's what we learned ...
What are you up to now?
I am currently on my first sabbatical. It’s been a refreshing year that has allowed me the time to jump start different projects and grow as a coach. As an Assistant Coach on the National Senior Women’s Rugby Team, I attended the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand (Fall 2022) where Canada placed 4th. I will continue to be part of the coaching staff as we embark on a short three year campaign to the 2025 Rugby World Cup. On the academic side, I’ve been exploring collaborations with Coach Educators in England, New Zealand and Australia to enhance our Masters program. Additionally, I am examining international models of instruction to make formal coach training accessible to coaches around the world.
Why is your work meaningful to you?
I strongly believe that this Masters program is having a positive impact on the Canadian sports sector. We are graduating coaches and technical leaders that are evidence-informed and action orientated: these key decision makers are influencing a safer culture of excellence. I am extremely grateful to be working at such a pioneering institution (UBC) where every day I am driven to enhance the student experience while contributing to the community.
How can others support EDIA initiatives?
Teaching is a lifelong learning process. There is always something to learn when you are an educator. The world is always changing, and so you need to adapt and grow with it otherwise you become extinct. For me, EDIA initiatives include constant reflection and learning from others. As an immigrant from Argentina, I view the world with a particular lens and my experiences in Canada have shaped that perspective. I realize this is not how others may view the world; it’s within this diversity thatt truly enriches the human experience.
I’m not huge on inspirational quotes but I do like the lyric by the Red Hot Chili Peppers
“The more I see, the less I know, the more I'd like to let it go.”