PASQUINO Rossana

Classification
B (IWAS, 2021)

Type of Impairment
Spinal Cord Injuries (salernotoday.it, 18 Apr 2020)

Origin of Impairment
Acquired (salernotoday.it, 18 Apr 2020)

Impairment Details
At age nine she suffered a spinal cord infarction [spinal cord stroke], which resulted in paraplegia. (salernotoday.it, 18 Apr 2020)

General
EDUCATION AND OCCUPATION
In 2005 she graduated with a master's degree in chemical engineering from the University of Naples Federico II, and graduated with a PhD from the same university in 2008. She has completed post-doctoral studies in Belgium and Greece, worked as a visiting professor in both Switzerland and Canada, and has authored more than 50 scientific papers. In 2012 she took up a position as a permanent researcher at the University of Naples Federico II's department of chemical engineering, materials and industrial production. She began working as an associate professor at the university in 2018, and has also worked for a company that publishes scientific information on physics. (docenti.unina.it, 01 Jan 2019; Facebook profile, 31 Mar 2021)

FEDERAL COUNCILLOR
In 2021 she was appointed as an athlete representative on the national council of the Italian Fencing Federation [FIS]. She represents both Olympic and Paralympic athletes in her role. "I was a candidate and I was elected. Paralympic, Olympic, I don't pay much attention to it, I feel like a representative of athletes in Italy. It is something we say is innovative, strange but innovative, the fact that a federal councillor is in a wheelchair and that is actually a spokesman. It is a prestige for the federation, it is certainly an important message for those who have not believed in it until now. The limits do not exist, but I must say that it is impressive not to seek them, that is, if you do not see them, they are not there." (fanpage.it, 07 Mar 2021)

BALANCE
She admits it can be challenging to balance her work as a university professor and her career as an athlete. "It's a lot of work to balance sport with my career. It's not easy to do everything and do everything well, but I'm going to do the best I can. I feel both [professor and athlete] and not in a unique way. I bring a bit of my professionalism to the platform and a bit of competitive spirit and sportsmanship to the chair. But I would say that I am a university teacher and an athlete. I believe this is the order. Perhaps this is dictated by the fact that study, research and teaching have occupied a more significant part of my life than fencing competition has so far. We'll talk about it again, however, in about 10 years. Maybe I'll have reversed the order or added a new priority." (queensu.ca, 07 Aug 2018; vesuviolive.it, 10 Jul 2020)