Chris Barnhill

Biography

Dr. Chris Barnhill joined Belmont University as an Associate Professor of Sport Administration in Fall 2023. He holds a Ph.D. in Sport Management from The Ohio State University, an M.B.A. from East Tennessee State University, and a B.S. in Education (Sport Management) with a minor in Business Administration from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

With extensive experience in both higher education and the sports industry, Dr. Barnhill previously served as an Associate Professor of Sport Management at Georgia Southern University, where he also coordinated the undergraduate B.S. in Sport Management program. Prior to that, he was an Assistant Professor of Sport Management at Louisiana State University. His professional background includes roles with the Miami Marlins (MLB), East Tennessee State Athletics (NCAA), and Kansas State Athletics (NCAA), primarily focusing on ticket sales and operations. Dr. Barnhill's passion for higher education stems from his desire to mentor students entering the sports industry.

Dr. Barnhill’s research centers on organizational behavior in the sports industry. He has authored a textbook and published over 25 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters in prominent journals, including the Journal of Sport Management, Sport Management Education Journal, Sport Marketing Quarterly, and Journal of Applied Sport Management. His recent work explores the role of empathy in effective leadership, and in 2024, he was invited by the Smithsonian’s Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation to present his research at the National Museum of American History.

Originally from Oakdale, California, Dr. Barnhill enjoys traveling, music, cheering for the San Francisco Giants, and spending time with his wife, Amy, their four children—Mary Grace, Graham, Annaliese, and Grayson—and their two dogs, Rosie and Henry.