Dr. Daniel Chilek is the department chair and an Assistant Professor in Exercise Science in the Health and Kinesiology Department. He got his undergraduate and master's degrees in Physical Education at Lamar in the 1980’s. He then pursued his Ph.D. at Texas A&M University in exercise physiology and statistics.

After teaching at Texas A&M, the University of Pan America and Mississippi State University, he returned to Lamar in 2001 to initiate the Exercise Science Program. Dr. Chilek has served as the graduate coordinator and the coordinator of the exercise science program where he works today. The exercise science program has grown and its graduates may be found in a variety of settings in the Southeast Texas community.