Faculty of Health, Sport and Behavioural Sciences
Valentina is a University of Northampton Psychology graduate, working towards a PhD in Educational Psychology. Her life revolves mainly around contributing to our community, and helping others.
As a Tutor in Psychology and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), with a strong background in Educational and Developmental Psychology, she brings a student-centred, research-informed approach to higher education.
Valentina is committed to inclusive teaching, academic support, and engagement, and has made significant contributions to both curriculum development and cross-departmental initiatives. She is also a certified Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Instructor, supporting student wellbeing alongside academic success.
Five things to know about Valentina:
Valentina teaches across undergraduate and postgraduate levels, specialising in Research Methods, Statistics, Educational Psychology, and Developmental Psychology. She has designed and delivered innovative sessions in various modules using blended learning approaches and technologies, and specialises in SPSS and JASP statistical software. Valentina also serves as a Personal Academic Tutor (PAT), supporting students in their academic progression and well-being.
Valentina’s life mission is to help others and to contribute to the improvement of knowledge within the community and wider society.
Main teaching modules:
Valentina’s doctoral research focuses on teachers’ visual attention in the classroom and its links to students’ subjective social status, peer relations and overall students’ classroom experiences, using advanced ambulatory mobile eye-tracking technology. Her broader research interests also include inclusive teaching, classroom engagement, educational interventions, peer relations and group processes, nonverbal communication, applied cognitive science in teaching contexts, biopsychology, anatomy and neuroscience. She is the author of The Science of Happiness: 20 Rules for a Happy Life, a practical guide grounded in psychological research aimed at promoting wellbeing and resilience, targeting the general public. Valentina is actively involved in STEM/STEAM outreach, contributes to departmental working groups (e.g., EDI and Attendance & Engagement), and delivers motivational talks across faculties and to the wider public.