Don Hellison, PhD, was a professor in the college of education at the University of Illinois at Chicago and codirector of the Teaching Personal and Social Responsibility (TPSR) Alliance. He worked extensively with high-risk youth, was a distinguished research fellow at Adelphi University, and was a visiting professor at numerous universities in the United States and in Canada.

Much of Hellison's work focused on the development, implementation, and evaluation of alternative physical activity program models that teach life skills and values, especially for underserved youth.

He published numerous books, articles, and book chapters. Hellison received many awards, including the Gulick Medal (AAHPERD's highest honor) and the International Olympic Committee's President's Prize. He received grant support for 25 projects, served on three editorial boards, and was editor of Quest for two years. He gave keynote addresses, made presentations at professional meetings, and conducted workshops for teachers and youth workers in most of the 50 states, several Canadian provinces, and Israel, Korea, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, England, and Spain. He also served on numerous committees for several professional associations.

Don Hellison passed away in 2018.