Program Director of the M.S. In Performance Nutrition and Dietetics Program

The Department of Exercise Science at the University of South Carolina (USC) Arnold School of Public Health (ASPH; www.sph.sc.edu) invites applications for a Clinical Assistant or Clinical Associate Professor position focused on directing our new Master of Science in Performance Nutrition and Dietetics (MS/PND) degree program. The MS/PND program was recently accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) as a program under the Future Education Model Accreditation Standards for Graduate Programs.

 The successful candidate must have a Registered Dietician/Registered Dietician Nutritionist (RD/RDN) credential, graduate degree (minimum of a master’s degree) in nutrition, dietetics, exercise science or health-related field by the start date of employment August 16, 2025, experience teaching/mentoring in a higher education setting, a history of post-credentialing professional dietetics experience (5+ years with a master’s degree, 3+ years with a doctoral degree), and relevant exercise, human performance, or nutrition experience. Applicants wishing to be considered for the rank of Clinical Associate Professor must have at least 5 years of experience as an effective instructor, student mentor, and researcher by the beginning date of employment.

 This full-time, 12-month faculty position is being established at the departmental level to direct the MS/PND program as well as teach and mentor graduate students in the program. The successful candidate will be motivated to serve as an ambassador of the dietetics field as well as the performance nutrition facet of the field. They will also exude passion for advancing the formalized education of performance nutrition. The Program Director will be highly involved in the recruitment and selection of additional program faculty, including a program coordinator, as well as stewarding relationships with community stakeholders. The Program Director will be responsible for all aspects of academic leadership and administration within the MS/PND program, including maintaining accreditation status; providing mentorship and faculty/preceptor development; monitoring and evaluating the curriculum; monitoring and evaluating program and learning assessment measures; chairing the program committees; and participating in scholarship and service. 

 Upon its launch in the Fall of 2025, the MS/PND program will be the first and only nutrition and dietetics degree program at USC. The MS/PND program is strongly supported by a robust collection of preceptors, instructors, Advisory Board members, and administrative stakeholders. The program curriculum is designed to elevate performance nutrition education through novel, practical curriculum that crosses dietetics practice with performance nutrition services. This 2-year graduate program includes both traditional dietetics and advanced performance nutrition content to cultivate confident, entry-level dietitians that promote health and human performance in a variety of practice settings.   

 The Department offers degrees at the undergraduate, masters, and doctoral level with programs in exercise science, athletic training, and physical therapy. The PhD program is consistently one of the top ranked programs in the US, and USC is among the top sport science universities in the US and the world. The department currently serves approximately 1200 undergraduates and over 270 graduate students across all programs. The Department and ASPH have numerous researchers with a focus on exercise and health, performance, nutrition, endocrinology, metabolism, genetics, neuroscience, obesity, children’s health, and special populations. Faculty members in the Department have established relationships with University Athletics, PRISMA Health, the Columbia VA Medical Center, the Department of Defense, and numerous community partners and schools. 

 USC is a research-intensive University and has been designated by the Carnegie Foundation as a doctoral institution with highest research activity. USC has also been designated a community engaged institution, making it one of only a few public universities to earn both the top-tier research classification and the community engagement classification from Carnegie. The university is in Columbia, South Carolina, the state capital and the center of a metropolitan area that is home to over 800,000 residents. The low cost of living in the Columbia metropolitan area, coupled with abundant recreational, cultural, and educational opportunities provides the opportunity for an excellent quality of life. Filled with historic homes and charming, diverse neighborhoods, Columbia is a city on the rise, noted by Thrillist website as one of eight cities with the cool appeal of Nashville or Portland. Jogging and walking paths line the downtown and riverfront greenway, with parks scattered throughout the rest of the city. The popularity of downtown living has sparked the growth of independent restaurants, coffee houses, wine bars, breweries, galleries, boutiques, and street fairs. Other Columbia highlights include: the Columbia Museum of Art with continuous high-profile traveling exhibits; the Nickelodeon art house cinema; the South Carolina State Museum with its planetarium, observatory, and 4-D movie theatre; the nationally recognized Riverbanks Zoo and Garden; and Lake Murray. Columbia has a lively local music scene as well as national entertainment tours that visit the Colonial Life Arena. Known for its college athletics teams as a member of the SEC, the city also hosts a minor league baseball team (the Columbia Fireflies). Centrally located, Columbia is two hours from the South Carolina coast and the Blue Ridge Mountains.   

 The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in educational or employment opportunities or decisions for qualified persons on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender (including transgender), gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDs status, military status, national origin, pregnancy (false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, childbirth, recovery therefrom or related medical conditions, breastfeeding), race, religion (including religious dress and grooming practices), sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other bases under federal, state, local law, or regulations.  

The University of South Carolina offers a robust benefits package described at : http://www.sc.edu/about/offices_and_divisions/human_resources/benefits/index.php  

 How to apply: Applications must be submitted via USC Jobs at the following link: https://uscjobs.sc.edu/postings/188105. Complete applications will include: 1) a letter of application that highlights your dietetics and performance nutrition experience, notable achievements, and any teaching and/or mentorship activities; 2) a curriculum vitae/resume; and 3) contact information for three references (including at least one academic reference). All finalists will be required to submit official transcripts from degree-granting institution(s). Applicants should contact Dr. Devon Golem at dgolem@mailbox.sc.edu with any questions. Review of applications will begin on June 30, 2025 and will continue until the position is filled.