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

Clinical Assistant or Clinical Associate Professor (Professional Track)

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 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.

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, 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 became 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 offers a robust benefits package described at: http://www.sc.edu/about/offices_and_divisions/human_resources/benefits/index.php

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. Shawn Arent at sarent@mailbox.sc.edu with any questions. Review of applications will begin on June 15, 2026 and will continue until the position is filled.



Positions are advertised for a minimum of forty-five (45) days on our job website. After forty-five (45) days, positions can be closed at the discretion of the department at any time. This position is open until filled. This employment site is updated on a regular basis. The length of the recruitment and screening process may vary from position to position, depending upon a variety of factors. Should review of your qualifications result in a decision to pursue your candidacy, you will be contacted by phone or email.