Staff Directory
Childs, Dan
Dan Childs
- Title:
- Executive Associate AD | Academics and Student-Athlete Engagement (Soccer)
- E-Mail:
Dr. Dan Childs serves as the Executive Associate Athletic Director for Academics and Student-Athlete Engagement at Texas A&M University, where he plays a pivotal role in supporting the academic success and holistic development of Aggie student-athletes. Since joining Texas A&M Athletics in the Fall of 2008, he has served as the Assistant AD for Football Academics as well as the Associate AD for Student-Athlete Services and has been instrumental in shaping programs that foster academic achievement, leadership, and student-athlete engagement among student-athletes.
Before his tenure at Texas A&M, Dr. Childs served as an athletic academic advisor at the University of Kentucky from 2001-08, further grounding his understanding of the student-athlete experience. At Texas A&M, he also serves on the Executive Staff and is the Sport Administrator for Women’s Soccer and serves on various student-facing administrative committees on campus. In his current role, he leads initiatives through the Center for Student-Athlete Services, focusing on academic support, professional development, civic engagement, and leadership training.
During the 2024-25 academic year, Texas A&M athletes tallied the second-best department GPA (3.147) ever in the fall 2024 semester and followed that with its highest spring GPA (3.208) ever.
For the first time in Texas A&M history, Texas A&M athletes posted the highest number of AD Honor Roll (3.0 GPA or higher) students with 411 in the spring of 2025.
Dr. Childs is deeply committed to empowering student-athletes to succeed not only in competition and the classroom but also in life beyond college. He is known for his passion for mentorship and his belief in the transformative power of education and hard work. One of his favorite quotes reflects this ethos: “Half effort does not produce half results. It produces no results. Work, continuous work, and hard work are the only way to accomplish results that last.”
A native of Lexington, Kentucky, Dr. Childs earned his bachelor’s degree in public relations from Eastern Kentucky University, where he also competed as a track and field student-athlete. He later completed a Master’s in Sports Administration at Xavier University, followed by a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from Texas A&M University. He is currently pursuing an Executive MBA from Washington State University.
Outside of his professional life, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Lynette, and their three children: Avery, Ellison, and Olivia. He is also an avid reader and runner.
Before his tenure at Texas A&M, Dr. Childs served as an athletic academic advisor at the University of Kentucky from 2001-08, further grounding his understanding of the student-athlete experience. At Texas A&M, he also serves on the Executive Staff and is the Sport Administrator for Women’s Soccer and serves on various student-facing administrative committees on campus. In his current role, he leads initiatives through the Center for Student-Athlete Services, focusing on academic support, professional development, civic engagement, and leadership training.
During the 2024-25 academic year, Texas A&M athletes tallied the second-best department GPA (3.147) ever in the fall 2024 semester and followed that with its highest spring GPA (3.208) ever.
For the first time in Texas A&M history, Texas A&M athletes posted the highest number of AD Honor Roll (3.0 GPA or higher) students with 411 in the spring of 2025.
Dr. Childs is deeply committed to empowering student-athletes to succeed not only in competition and the classroom but also in life beyond college. He is known for his passion for mentorship and his belief in the transformative power of education and hard work. One of his favorite quotes reflects this ethos: “Half effort does not produce half results. It produces no results. Work, continuous work, and hard work are the only way to accomplish results that last.”
A native of Lexington, Kentucky, Dr. Childs earned his bachelor’s degree in public relations from Eastern Kentucky University, where he also competed as a track and field student-athlete. He later completed a Master’s in Sports Administration at Xavier University, followed by a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from Texas A&M University. He is currently pursuing an Executive MBA from Washington State University.
Outside of his professional life, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Lynette, and their three children: Avery, Ellison, and Olivia. He is also an avid reader and runner.
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