r. Tan is the first Overseas Graduate Scholar of the School of Physical Education. He has taught in public schools and tertiary institutions in Singapore and the United States. He also worked as a Fitness Consultant in the private sector prior to joining the School of Physical Education. In 1984, he was awarded the Institute of Education Best All-Round Prize and the Rotary International Gold Medal Award. At the undergraduate level, he was voted the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) Physical Education Major of the Year.

His previous research included The comparison of experienced and novice teachers interactive decisions, Induction of first-year teachers, Beliefs and practices of beginning teachers, Physical Education teachers recruitment patterns, Subject matter expertise, and pedagogical content knowledge in teaching Physical Education, and Competent teachers knowledge in Physical Education. Currently, Dr. Tan is investigating (1) The influence of pre-existing beliefs about teaching on teacher development of second-career teachers and (2) the different aspects of the socialization of Physical Education majors.