LANCASTER, Pa.- The Atlantic East Conference released its 2020-21 Distinguished Service Award Winners on Thursday morning, and longtime Immaculata University Professor and Faculty Athletic Representative Barbara Gallagher was honored by the league office for all she has done over the course of her lengthy tenure at Immaculata.

Having completed her 33^rd year as a professor at Immaculata University in 2021, longtime member of the Department of Health, Nutrition, and Exercise Sciences, Professor Barbara Gallagher, announced her retirement at the end of the 2020-21 Academic Year.
 
Gallagher joined the Immaculata community in 1988 as a part-time instructor before joining the full-time faculty in 1994. The 2013-14 recipient of the prestigious Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award, Gallagher has been an integral part of the Immaculata University faculty and staff throughout her illustrious career. In her career, Gallagher has served as both the chair of the Movement Science Department and as the Inaugural Chair of the Health, Nutrition, and Exercise Science Department. In her role as the Inaugural Chair of the Health, Nutrition, and Exercise Science Department, Gallagher's leadership helped to ensure that the combining of the three Departments experienced the smoothest transition possible.
 
Gallagher has also continually displayed her dedication to the long-term success of Immaculata University, having co-chaired the Immaculata University Middle States Self-Study, which was completed at the end of the 2015-16 year. In addition to her meaningful work on the University level and serving on several key committees, Gallagher has served as the Faculty Athletic Representative (FAR) for the Immaculata University Athletic Department since the beginning of the 2016-17 year. Since assuming the role of FAR within the Department, Gallagher's leadership has been a cornerstone of the Department, helping Immaculata form and transition into the Atlantic East Conference.
 
In addition to her accomplishments as a faculty member, Gallagher also served in the coaching ranks for Immaculata, having served as an Assistant Field Hockey coach for the Mighty Macs from the 1991-95 season. A fixture within the Department of Athletics and Recreation during her time at Immaculata, Gallagher has also been a longtime member of the Immaculata University Athletics Hall of Fame committee, providing valuable leadership and insight within this group.
 
Throughout her career, whether serving in the role of a Professor, Committee Member, Coach, or Advisor, Gallagher has shown continued commitment and dedication to the students, faculty, and staff of Immaculata University through her daily work to help support and move the University forward. Gallagher, who has been described as a matchless asset, has shown a continued dedication to building strong relationships with students, faculty, and staff alike, providing significant contributions to her students in the classroom and her peers and the Immaculata University community as a whole. Described by her students as a professor with an enthusiastic, energizing, engaging, and enlivening teaching style, Gallagher continually creates a stimulating classroom environment, encouraging critical thinking and practical application of concepts with her sharing of stories and personal experiences throughout her career.