Darla M. Castelli, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Kinesiology & Health Education

Office:
103 Anna Hiss Gymnasium
Department of Kinesiology and Health Education
The University of Texas
Austin, Texas 78712
Mail Code: A2000

Phone: 512-232-7636; Fax: 512-471-5574
E-mail: dcastelli@mail.utexas.edu

Full Vita (pdf file)

Research Interests

Dr. Castelli studies the effects of physical activity on motor and cognitive performance in school-aged children. She examines physical activity during quality physical education experiences as well as during free time.

Educational Background

• 2002 Ph.D. University of South Carolina, Physical Education Pedagogy/Technology.
• 1991 M.S. Northern Illinois University, Physical Education/Exercise Physiology
• 1989 B.S. Plymouth State University, Physical Education/Psychology

Selected Publications

Books

• Castelli, D.M., & Fiorentino, L. (2008). Technology Playbook: A Systematic Plan for Integration. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
• Lynn, S., Castelli, D., Cone, S., & Werner, P. (2007). Physical Education Professional Development Seminar. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

Chapters in Books

• Castelli, D.M., & Hillman, C.H. (2010). Physical Activity, Cognition, and School Performance: From Neurons to Neighborhoods. In A. Meyer & T. Gullota (Eds.), Physical Activity as Intervention: Application to epression, Obesity, Drug Use, and Beyond. National Institute on Drug Abuse.
• Castelli, D.M. (2010). Physical Activity and Cognitive Benefits. In Ainsworth, B., Godbey, G. and Payne, L. (Eds.), Leisure, Health/Well. College Station, PA: Venture Publishing.

Articles in Refereed Journals

• Hillman, C.H., Pontifex, M.B., Raine, L., Castelli, D.M., Hall, E.E., & Kramer, A.F. (2009). The effect of acute treadmill walking on cognitive control and academic achievement in preadolescent children. Neuroscience. 159, 1044-1054.
• Beighle, A., Erwin H., Castelli, D., & Ernst, M. (2009). Preparing physical educators for the role of physical activity director. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance.
• Hillman, C. H., Buck, S. M., & Castelli, D. M. (2009). Aerobic fitness and cognitive development:  Event-related potential and task performance indices of interference control in preadolescent children, Development Psychology, 45(1), 114-129.
• Erwin, H. E., & Castelli, D.M. (2008). National physical education standards: A summary of student performance and its correlates. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 79(4), 495-505.
• Castelli, D.M., & Flegel, M.J. (2008). Enhancing school performance through physical activity and fitness. Our Children, 34(1), 13-15.
• Chodzko-Zajko, W., Zhu, W., Bazzarre, T., Castelli, D., Graber, K., & Woods, A. (2008). We move kids: The consensus report from the roundtable to examine strategies for promoting walking in the school environment. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise,40(7), S603-S605.
• Buck, S.M., Hillman, C.H., & Castelli, D.M. (2008). Aerobic fitness influences on Stroop task performance in preadolescent children. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 40, 166-172.
• Castelli, D.M. (2007). Physical activity, fitness, and cognitive processes in school-aged children. Thresholds in Education, 33(1), 17-24.

Recent Grants

• Illinois Soy Association. Peterson, S. (PI), Chapman-Novakofski, K, Castelli D. (Co-I), Lloyd, L. "R.U. A. Healthy Kid 2?" A comprehensive, school-based intervention for Illinois young adolescents who are at-risk for Type 2 Diabetes. $200,000 (Dec. 1, 2009).
• Illinois Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance Jump Rope for Heart Research Grant, Castelli, D. M., (PI). MP3 for a Healthy Me: Podcasting Healthy Messages for Teens, $5044 (funded 2007-2008).
• NICH R01. Hillman, C., Castelli, D., (Co-I), Motl, R. ERPs to Academics: Exercise Effects on Cognition in School-aged Children, $1,474,887 (funded, Feb. 2008-2010).

Honors, Recognitions and Outstanding Achievements

• 2008 UIUC Teaching Excellence Award: Innovation in Undergraduate Instruction Using Educational Technologies
• 2007 AAHPERD Research Consortium Fellow
• 2007 IAHPERD Past-President’s Scholar Award
• 2006 AIESEP International Young Scholar Award
• 2005 NAKPEHE Hally Beth Poindexter Young Scholar Award
• 1999 Board of Directors Special Achievement Award, M.S.A.D. #71
• 1995 Maine AAHPERD Teacher of the Year