Donald F. Staffo, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair
Department of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation
Stillman College
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Author and Professional Journalist
Biographical Information
Dr. Donald F. Staffo is professor and chairman of the Dept. of Health and Physical Education at Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Ala. He has also been Athletic Director at Stillman and was instrumental in starting the football program. Prior to that he was Director of Physical Education and Athletic Director at Alice Lloyd College where he implemented the physical education major and ALC’s move into the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and into the National Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Earlier he was a physical education teacher and coach of boys and girls sports in the public schools. He has published 117 scholarly articles in international, national and regional journals. In addition to being the recipient of numerous awards over more than 4 decades as an educator/researcher, Dr. Staffo for more than 30 years has developed a second career as an award-winning professional journalist. The author of 7 books, a weekly health and fitness newspaper column, and more than 2,000 publications, he has also covered University of Alabama football and basketball for a variety of national and local media outlets for more than 25 years. In additional to making numerous professional presentations, Dr. Staffo is a consultant and motivational speaker who is frequently called upon to speak at commencements, athletic banquets, civic and fraternal clubs.
Professional Philosophy
Through my teaching, administrative duties and writings I strive each day to make a positive contribution to and difference in the lives of as many people as I can in as many ways and on as many levels as I can. Beyond an educational impact to my students, through my column and other writings I try to not only provide information to the general public, but also bring some enjoyment to those who read what I write. Professionally, when I retire, I don’t want to look back and have any regrets or feel that there was more that I could have done or should have done, but didn’t.