Prof. Joan L. Duda is a Professor of Sports Psychology at The University of Birmingham, UK, and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Bergen, Norway. She holds a Ph.D. in Sport Psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (1981). With over 25 years of experience as a mental skills consultant, she has worked with athletes, coaches, and parents across various levels, including the USA Gymnastics Women’s Artistic National Team and the Women's US Olympic Team that won gold at the 1996 Atlanta Games. Prof. Duda has led numerous studies, including the development of Mental Skills Training for elite athletes and young rugby players in collaboration with the Scottish Rugby Union. She is past president of the Association for the Advancement of Applied Sport Psychology and a Fellow of prominent organizations, including the European College of Sport Sciences and the American Academy of Kinesiology and Physical Education. Prof. Duda has published over 220 papers and book chapters and serves on the editorial boards of several academic journals.