Awards
- Bicentennial Medal - 2019
About David L. Gallahue
David Gallahue received a B.A. from Indiana University, an M.A. from Purdue University, and a doctorate of education degree from Temple University. Gallahue's relationship with IU began as a student at IU's School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation (HPER) in the early 1960's, and continued throughout his professional career. He is continually active at the professional and local level with IU, HPER, and the Bloomington community.
Gallahue returned to IU in 1970 as an assistant professor, eventually becoming an internationally known expert in motor development and movement skill learning of children and youth, particularly in physical activity and sports settings. He served as associate dean for academic affairs and research at HPER and a professor of kinesiology. With more than 30 years of experience as an administrator and faculty member, in 2002, Gallahue was named dean of HPER. Other leadership roles have included terms as president of the National Association for Sport and Physical Education and chair of the Council on Physical Education for Children.
Gallahue has spoken or taught at more than 300 universities and conferences in more than 20 countries. He's consulted for the National Institute for Fitness and Sport, several school districts, and two governing bodies of the U.S. Olympic Committee: USA Gymnastics and USA Skiing. He wrote a bestselling textbook that's now in its sixth edition, Understanding Motor Development: Infants, Children, Adolescents, Adults. The other textbook he co-wrote, Developmental Physical Education for All Children, is in its fourth edition. His textbooks and other work have been translated into languages such as Chinese, Japanese, Greek, Spanish, and Portuguese. He also directed a HPER hike along the Great Wall of China in cooperation with the Beijing University of Physical Education. In 2019, Gallahue was awarded Indiana University's Bicentennial Medal, in recognition of his distinguished service and longstanding support of the university.