After joining both the student athletic training program and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes during high school, he pursued a double major in athletic training and physical education before earning a master’s degree in Sport, Fitness, and Recreational Leadership. Alongside his work in education and athletics, he founded a sports ministry organization called Achieving Better Beyond Athletics (ABBA), designed to support Black male athletes through mentorship, holistic development, and spiritual growth. At the time, he was content building a meaningful career as a health and wellness teacher and athletic trainer at a high school on the west side of Chicago.

A Divine Push Toward a Doctorate

“I had no intention of pursuing my doctorate degree,” he admitted. However, an unexpected moment of divine intervention changed everything.

Shortly after dismissing a LinkedIn message about CSP Global’s doctoral program, Dr. Joyner encountered a random woman who began sharing details about her own doctoral journey.

“She stopped mid-sentence and said, ‘You need to go back to school to get your doctorate. God’s not done with you.’”

Not long after that moment, he applied to CSP Global and began a doctoral journey that would expand both his career and his impact.

The Advantage of an Integrated Dissertation

When reflecting on why CSP Global stood out among other doctoral programs, Dr. Joyner shared: “I chose to complete my Kinesiology doctoral degree at CSP because of the curriculum. With my background in athletic training and physical education, I was hoping to find a program that would teach me new things and challenge me.”

Dr. Jaylon Joyner at the May 2026 Commencement Ceremony at Concordia University, St. Paul, after graduating with his EdD in Kinesiology, representing Athletes in Action’s Ultimate Training Camp, where he conducted his dissertation research.

What especially stood out was the structure of the program. CSP Global’s integrated dissertation model allows EdD in Kinesiology students to begin their research alongside their coursework, a feature that helped Dr. Joyner avoid the extended timelines common in traditional programs.

“I fell in love with the idea that the dissertation process intersected with the coursework.”

That structure made the program feel both practical and manageable. “In undergrad, I would often hear individuals pursuing their doctoral degrees complaining about being in school for almost six or seven years because the dissertation process began after their coursework was completed. I loved the idea that we got to begin our dissertation process simultaneously.”

For Dr. Joyner, one of the most valuable aspects was how immediately applicable the coursework became. “The best part of CSP’s Kinesiology doctoral program was that I could connect almost every assignment or project to an interest of mine that left me with practical information,” he said. “I felt like I could immediately apply the information I learned.”

Balancing Family, Career, and Online Learning

The online format of the EdD in Kinesiology program provides the flexibility working professionals need to advance their education without pausing their lives. During his time in the program, Dr. Joyner successfully balanced his coursework while he welcomed two children, earned a promotion to Dean of Student Life and Athletics at his high school, and accepted a new opportunity as an Adjunct Instructor at Loyola University Chicago in the Exercise Science Program.

There, he teaches a course he personally developed called “Faith, Sports, & Fitness,” which was born out of a class project in his applied measurement and evaluation techniques course at CSP Global.

“There was no way I could manage an in-person doctoral program with a wife, kids, and a full-time job,” he shared.

That flexibility allowed him to continue investing in ABBA and mentoring student-athletes throughout the program.

Connecting Faith, Sports, and Athlete Development

Dr. Joyner’s dissertation project combined nearly every passion that has shaped his career: sports, mentorship, faith, and athlete development. The title of his dissertation topic was “Faith & Sports: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Athletes in Action’s Ultimate Training Camp in Developing College Athletes Spiritually.”

Dr. Jaylon Joyner (center) with a few of his mentees in the Achieving Better Beyond Athletics (ABBA) program attending the Plan2Lead Teen Summit.

The motivation behind the project came from a desire to contribute to conversations around holistic athlete development, particularly spiritual growth.

“Since I was a part of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in high school, connecting faith and sports has always been somewhat of a passion of mine,” he said.

That same passion inspired him to create ABBA and eventually led him to study Athletes in Action and its Ultimate Training Camp program.

“While conducting my research, I came across Athletes in Action’s Ultimate Training Camp and I was blown away by what the camp offered. I figured I would learn a lot from their camp to better understand how to connect faith and sports and develop athletes.”

During his study, he volunteered with the camp as an athletic trainer and plans to continue serving with the organization moving forward. “They host Ultimate Training Camps all across the world, and my hope is to be able to volunteer at as many locations as I can to connect athletes to God through sports.”

Dr. Joyner’s dissertation also directly influenced how he leads the ABBA mentorship program today. “Every spring, I take my mentees to a three-day retreat with other male athletes from the west side of Chicago,” he explained. “After conducting my dissertation on the effectiveness of a sports ministry organization’s camp on developing athletes, I was able to take away practical tools to improve the retreat.” After presenting proposed changes to the retreat coordinator, his recommendations were accepted.

Advice for Future Kinesiology Scholars

As he reflects on the doctoral experience, his advice for future students is simple and deeply personal: “Research something you are passionate about that will put you in a better position for your future. Let your dissertation be marketable!”

Moving forward, Dr. Joyner plans to spend time reconnecting with family and continuing to grow ABBA into something even larger. Currently, the program serves athletes at his high school, but his long-term vision reaches far beyond one campus. “Eventually, I would love to turn it into a 501(c)(3) and assist Black male athletes on a broader level who struggle with athlete identity and want to grow in their relationship with God.”

He also hopes to work alongside churches within the Black community to promote both physical and spiritual wellness.

“Through my dissertation, I learned that high-intensity training paired with spiritual principles can lead to spiritual growth,” he explained.

“I believe a great way to combat [health disparities] is to offer physical training programs to churches to educate churchgoers and give them the tools they need to tend to their bodies.”

For Dr. Joyner, the doctorate was never simply about earning another credential. It became a pathway to greater impact: one rooted in faith, service, mentorship, and helping others thrive both physically and spiritually.

Explore Your Future

Are you ready to expand your career and make a lasting impact in the field of health and wellness? Discover how the online EdD in Kinesiology at CSP Global can help you achieve your professional goals. With a flexible format and an integrated dissertation model, you can earn your doctorate while continuing to lead in your community.