Episode 35: “Virtue, Practical Wisdom, and the Power of Presence in Education” with Professor Verónica Fernández

Jan 6, 2026

In this insightful conversation, Professor Verónica Fernández, a leading scholar in character education from Francisco de Vitoria University, uncovers the essence of flourishing leadership as a matter of integrity and purpose. She discusses her mission with the Virtues and Values Education Center to integrate character development in academia. Verónica emphasizes the importance of practical wisdom amid modern challenges like polarization and AI. Lastly, she highlights the transformative power of presence, love, and reflection in nurturing both educators and students alike.

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INSIGHT

Leadership As A Way Of Being

A flourishing leader is primarily a way of being rooted in integrity and purpose.
Leadership's aim is helping others grow into their best selves, not power or performance.

ANECDOTE

Founding The Virtues And Values Center

Verónica founded the Virtues and Values Education Center after years as a teacher and principal.
She created the center to form educators in character, combining philosophy, psychology, theology, and practice.

ADVICE

Train Teachers In Three Integrated Dimensions

Integrate knowledge, practice, and reflection when training educators.
Invite teachers to live virtue, reflect on habits, and see themselves as moral agents rather than neutral transmitters.

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What if leadership isn’t first a skillset — but a way of being?

In this episode of The Flourishing Leaders Podcast, Dr. Scott Parsons and Jason Viyar are joined by Professor Verónica Fernández of Francisco de Vitoria University (UFV) in Madrid — an educator, scholar, and leader in Europe’s growing character and virtue education movement. Verónica is also deeply involved with the European Character and Virtue Association (ECVA), a network advancing research, training, and collaboration so character and virtues become central to education across Europe.

Together, we explore a powerful vision of education as formation — not merely information — and what it looks like when universities and schools take character development as seriously as intellectual excellence.

In this conversation, we discuss:

Why flourishing leadership is rooted in integrity, purpose, and moral identity
How Verónica’s Virtues and Values Education Center supports educators through research, formation, and community
The role of practical wisdom (phronesis) in navigating pluralism and complexity
Why teachers must flourish first — and how love + reflection sustain educator wellbeing
How virtue ethics guides education through polarization, AI disruption, and climate anxiety
Verónica’s closing message: the power of presence as the foundation of flourishing communities

About our guest

Professor Verónica Fernández teaches and researches educational leadership and virtue ethics applied to education at UFV. Her work includes building communities of practice, supporting teacher formation, and strengthening cross-border collaboration in character education across Europe.

🎧 Listen now and share this episode with an educator, leader, or parent who believes education should help people not only succeed — but become good.

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Thank you for listening to the Flourishing Leaders Podcast!
Hosted by Dr. Scott Parsons, this podcast explores how character, virtue, wisdom, and purpose can shape a more flourishing life and leadership journey.

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