Chad Payn

Dr. Chad Payn serves as the Chair of the Division of Exercise Science, Sports and Recreation and holds the rank of Associate Professor at Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU). He joined OBU in 2016 after 15+ years as a sports minister in churches across Houston, Dallas, Southeast Georgia, and Oklahoma. His work focuses on leveraging sports and recreation to foster Gospel-centered community relationships. He actively leads international sports ministry trips and mentors students through OBU's GO Trip program.

• Education:
  • B.A., Oklahoma Baptist University
  • M.A.C.E., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
  • Ed.D., United States Sports Academy

Dr. Payn’s research and professional interests emphasize the intersection of sports, faith, and community development. He advocates for using athletics as a bridge between the church and broader communities, particularly through cross-cultural ministry initiatives.

His professional contributions include leadership in sports ministry programs and academic advising within the Exercise Science division. While no specific grants or labs are detailed in the provided text, his role as Faculty Athletics Representative highlights his involvement in institutional sports governance.