The department’s mission is to prepare physical activity and sport professionals in teaching, management, and sports medicine. The department also provides opportunities for all students to develop lifelong physical activity skills.

Human Performance is now part of the College of Allied Health and Nursing. In the past it was called the College of Health and Human Performance, as well as the College of Health, Physical Education and Nursing. In the past, the department of Human Performance was called Physical Education.

Originally created as two separate departments, in 1974 the men’s and women’s physical education departments were merged. Prior to that time, faculty from the Women’s Physical Education Department managed women’s sports programs.

Ruth Schellberg served as the chairperson of women's physical education for 22 years, until her retirement in 1974. Georgene Brock served as a coach and women’s athletics director from 1964 to 1998. Schellberg, as chairperson of the women’s physical education department, guided the women’s program from intra-mural to full intercollegiate status.

For several years the men’s physical education program was chaired by Russell Gorman.

Physical education began in the Health and Physical Education Building in the Valley Campus. Beginning in the early 1960s buildings were constructed on the Highland campus, and by 1979 consolidation to the upper campus was completed. Physical Education classes then took place in Otto Arena, Highland Center, and Myers Fieldhouse. Later another gymnasium was built and renamed Schellberg Gym. The Taylor Center, which is a multi-purpose building and was completed in 2001, houses Bresnan Arena.

Information for this finding aid was obtained from:

Chronicle of Athletics Control: A History of Administration of Intercollegiate Athletics at Mankato State University 1890s-1980s by Roy Benjamin Moore.

Mankato State University the Second Century: The First Twenty-Five Years 1968-1992 by Claire E. Faust