BROWNWOOD, Texas – Howard Payne University director of athletics Hunter Sims today announced the promotion of Rachel Smith to director of athletic training services.

"We are extremely excited to announce Rachel Smith as our new director of athletic training services," said director of athletics Hunter Sims. "Rachel has shown tremendous skill sets in the variety of roles that she has served in HPU's athletic department. She has served well as athletic trainer, health care administrator, and also the clinical education coordinator for Kinesiology department."

Rachel Smith has been at Howard Payne since the summer of 2015. For the last three years, she has been one of the assistant athletic trainers working primarily with men's and women's soccer and men's and women's basketball as well as serving as a preceptor for HPU's athletic training education program.

"I am very excited and blessed to be able to continue my career here at Howard Payne. I thank Dr. Ellis, Dr. Bunyard, and Hunter Sims for their confidence in me," said Rachel Smith. "I look forward to improving our patient centered quality care and helping our student athletes improve on and off the field/court."

In becoming HPU athletics healthcare administrator last year, she has made great strides in improve the overall health of HPU student-athletes as well as working to increase awareness of mental health best practices in the athletic department.

Sims added, "I'm excited to watch her vision grow as she aspires to positively invest spiritually in our student athletes and student trainers."

Smith graduated from Hardin-Simmons University in 2013 with a Bachelor of Behavioral Science in Athletic Training and received her Master of Science in Human Performance in 2015 from University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Also before coming to Howard Payne, she gained experience in sports physical therapy with the Gunderson Health System. She is currently working on her Doctorate of Athletic Training.

Smith is a Certified Athletic Trainer from the Board of Certification, a Licensed Athletic Trainer in the State of Texas through Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, and has a certification for Health Care Provider CPR & AED. She previously held a license for athletic training in the state of Wisconsin. Smith is an active member of the National Athletic Trainers' Association and Southwest Athletic Trainers' Association.

Rachel is married to James Smith and they have two dogs. She enjoys spending time with her family, learning new things, working out, and reading.