Francisco Lopez Frias
Kinesiology and Health Science
Assistant Professor
Educational Background
Biography
I’m an assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Science. I earned my PhD in Philosophy from the University of Valencia in Spain, after completing a master’s in Ethics and Democracy and a BA in Philosophy. Before joining USU, I spent nine years at Penn State—another state school tucked in a valley—where I held appointments with the Rock Ethics Institute, the Philosophy Department (courtesy), and the Bioethics Program. Along the way, I’ve also had the chance to be a visiting scholar at places like Oxford’s Uehiro Center for Practical Ethics, the Franklin Institute in Alcalá de Henares, and the University of Rome – Foro Italico. I’ve been lucky to receive a few honors during my career, including the Robert Scott Kretchmar Student Essay Award and, more recently, the Warren Fraleigh Distinguished Scholar Award. I currently serve as President of the Spanish Association for the Philosophy of Sport and as Editor-in-Chief of Sport, Ethics and Philosophy.
Teaching Interests
I teach undergraduate and graduate courses that explore the connections between human movement—especially sport—and ethics. My classes focus on topics such as sports ethics, the philosophy of movement, and medical ethics applied to kinesiology. I regularly use real-world cases—like debates about doping, concussion protocols, early sport specialization, and doctor-patient relationships—to make abstract ideas more tangible. I particularly enjoy helping students think critically about the values that shape their participation in movement and the broader role that physical activity and sport play in society.
Research Interests
I explore various topics related to the nature of sport and how we might improve sporting practices. These include evaluating doping, philosophical perspectives on play and games—especially those developed by late philosopher of games Bernard Suits—and broader issues of justice and inclusion, such as how playing time is distributed in youth sports. I also investigate the ethics of concussions and athlete health. In addition to publishing over one hundred academic works—ranging from journal articles to book chapters and monographs in both English and Spanish—I regularly present my research at conferences worldwide. Alongside academic audiences, I’ve been consulted by journalists (CNN, Bloomberg, El País) and public figures (Headfirst: A concussion podcast) interested in the ethical dimensions of sport.