Alumni Association
Steve Blair
When Steve Blair’s college football coach enrolled in a doctoral program at IU’s School of HPER in the 1960s, Blair followed to further his own education. “At the time, my vision was to get my master’s degree and get a job coaching at a small college,” said Blair.
Soon after commencing his graduate program, Blair began to think more as a scientist and researcher than as a coach. His interests led to a position at the Cooper Institute in Dallas, Texas, a nonprofit research and education foundation that focuses on physical education as it relates to health.
Now the president and CEO of the organization he’s been with since 1984, Blair oversees health programs for thousands of leaders and health professionals each year throughout the nation and overseas. Millions of children and youth have been assessed by the Cooper Institute’s “FITNESSGRAM,” the fitness assessment and reporting software program of choice in more than 6,000 schools throughout the United States. Blair has delivered lectures in 48 states and 30 countries, published over 300 papers and chapters in scientific literature, and was senior scientific editor for the U.S. Surgeon General’s Report on Physical Activity and Health.
Blair recently joined HPER’s Dean’s Advisors and visited the school in April to present an endowed lecture. He and his wife, who met at IU, planned the visit to coincide with their 40th wedding anniversary.
“Health education reaches beyond physical education to prevention, stress management, and all healthful lifestyle issues,” said Blair. “The School of HPER has a lot to offer. Applying research to public health is an important mission of the school.”
