Visiting Associate Professor, Sport and Movement ScienceO'Keefe Complex 124978.542.2567
Doctor Gary Nihan is the retired K-12 Director of Health and Physical Education for the Danvers Public Schools in Danvers, Massachusetts. Previous to the Danvers Public Schools, Doctor Nihan was an administrator and teacher in the Reading Public Schools in Reading, Massachusetts. During his thirty-six year career in public education, Professor Nihan held a wide range of responsibilities that included teaching physical education and health education in grades Pre-K through 12, assistant principal, interim principal, director of adult and community education. Professor Nihan received his Doctorate in Education in Curriculum Leadership from Northeastern University.
Doctor Nihan also works with school districts in Massacusetts and Maine that have been awarded Carol M. White Pep Grants. In this capacity, Professor Nihan provides technical assistant in grant management, evaluation, grant implementation and sustainability strategies.
Professor Nihan has a wide range of professional interests. These interests include teacher evaluation, curriclum design in physical education & health education, instructional strategies, pre-service teacher education, standards based assessment in physical education & health education, evidenced based approaches in preventing bullying behaviors in schools, including athletics.
Currently, Doctor Nihan supervises teacher candidates during their full practcum experience during the fall and spring semester. He also teaches First Responder, Fundamentals of Fitness and Golf.
Nihan,G. (2011) Peer Reviewed Contribution to Chapter, Letters from the Field,
Effective Strategies for Teaching Physical Education In L. Ciccomascolo &
E. Sullivan (eds.), The Dimensions of Physical Education and Health Education: An Introduction to the
Discipline Boston:Jones & Bartlett.
Nihan, G. (July 18, 2009) Boston Globe Editorial - Failing to Make the Grade in Physical Education.
Nihan, G. (May 7, 2006) Boston Globe Editorial - Youth Need More Time Behind the Wheel.
Nihan, G. (Sept. 5, 2010) Boston Globe Interview - A Culture that Exposes Bullies
Nihan, G. (2010) Parenting Magazine – Addressing Bullying Behavior in Schools
Gallo, Nihan, Ruseckus, AAHPERD National Convention, Charoltte, North Carolina (2013) Presentation – April
25, 2013, Developing a Sequentional K-12 Curriculum in Physical Education
Nihan, Ruseckus, EDCO Professional Development Series, Newton Massachusetts (2013) Presentation -
March 14, 2013, Demonstrating Student Growth in Physical Education through NASPE PE Metrics,
D’Antonna, R., Nihan, G., AAHPERD National Convention (2011) Presentations – April 1, 2011, Best Practices
in Tackling Bullying Behavior in Athletics, April 1, 2011, The How and Why of Implementing a Bullying
D’Antonna, R., Nihan, G., MAHPERD State Conference (2010) Presentations – November 15, 2010 - Best
Practices in Tackling Bullying Behavior in Athletics, November 16, 2010 -The How and Why of
Implementing a Bullying Prevention Program
Professor Nihan enjoys living an active lifestyle that includes indoor and outdoor cycling, downhill skiing and golf as well as reading fiction.