PROVIDENCE, R.I. –– University of Tulsa offensive lineman Chris Paul has been appointed as the American Athletic Conference’s representative to the NCAA Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and will serve as chair of the conference’s SAAC executive board for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 academic years.

Paul is one of 32 student-athletes on the NCAA Division I SAAC, which reports directly to the NCAA Division I Council. He is the first football player from the American Athletic Conference to be named to the national SAAC and is the first student-athlete from Tulsa to be The American’s national representative

A redshirt junior, Paul started all 12 games at offensive guard in 2019 and is a veteran of 24 career games with 20 career starts.

Paul, who is pursuing an undergraduate degree in computer information systems, had previously served as the coordinator of community engagement for the American Athletic Conference SAAC.

He is a member of the University Ambassadors, the Student Association, the Black Men’s Initiative, the Future Alumni Council and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Tulsa.

“I am more than honored with this appointment by the American Athletic Conference. During the 2019-20 academic year, I had the privilege of serving as the SAAC Coordinator of Community Engagement for our league.

“It was a tremendous year of growth, and I look forward to this new opportunity and the mission to boldly represent every student-athlete in our conference at the national level. Our experiences as student-athletes are very unique and to have a platform where our voices are heard and bolstered is important,” said Paul.

Paul has personified the meaning of student-athlete, excelling academically and athletically while serving the community.  He was named to Tulsa’s Ultimate Team in 2019-20, an award that recognizes the school’s top student-athletes based on academic success, athletic achievement, campus involvement, character and community outreach. A top-10 freshman in 2018-19, Paul has volunteered at the Children’s Hospital at Saint Francis, Read Across America, Lift Up America and at the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma.

In January, Paul and fellow teammates made a presentation at the Black Student Athlete Summit in Austin, Texas, on how the Black Men’s Initiative (BMI) is addressing mental issues at TU wants a full football stadium this season