Assistant Professor, School of Kinesiology and Nutrition

Special Instructions to Applicants

The University of Southern Mississippi is a leader in academic excellence, innovative research, and community engagement. The School of Kinesiology and Nutrition is dedicated to advancing knowledge and practice in exercise and nutrition and is committed to fostering an inclusive and dynamic learning environment. We invite applicants for a tenure track, full-time, nine-month position at the rank of Assistant Professor in the School of Kinesiology and Nutrition in the College of Education and Human Sciences to begin fall 2026. We seek a highly motivated scholar with a strong capacity for producing research, teaching, and service. The successful candidate will contribute to our school through excellence in teaching undergraduate and graduate courses, leading impactful and focused research, and engaging in professional service. The goal of this position is to enhance school expertise related to sport coaching, and/or exercise or sport psychology.

Applicants should include a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and 2 statements: (1) research accomplishments and 3-year plan (3 page maximum, not including references), and (2) teaching philosophy (2 page maximum). Candidates should also provide a list of three professional references and official transcripts indicating all degrees. Review of applications will begin fall, 2025.

All questions concerning the position should be directed to Dr. Paul Donahue (paul.donahue@usm.edu), Search Committee Co-Chair. To ensure consideration, please submit application materials by October 1, 2025.

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without the need for visa sponsorship. The University will not sponsor applicants for work visas (e.g., H-1B).

Job Summary

This nine-month, tenure track faculty position requires teaching undergraduate and graduate-level courses in the school, developing and maintaining a programmatic line of research, mentoring students, and providing service to the school, college, university, and professional organizations. The school administers undergraduate programs in Exercise Science, Nutrition and Dietetics, Sport Coaching, Fitness and Nutrition, and K-12 Physical Education Licensure, master’s programs in Coaching & Sport Performance, Kinesiology, Nutrition & Food Systems, as well as a Kinesiology PhD. The ideal candidate would be qualified to teach, serve, and help manage content and programming within the undergraduate and graduate Sport Coaching programs.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

A tenure-track appointment involves:

• Research:

a. Commitment to building and sustaining a robust research agenda to include creation and dissemination of new knowledge.

b. Conducting high-quality, independent research in the field of sport coaching, and/or exercise or sport psychology.

c. Seeking and securing external funding through grants and other sources.

d. Publishing research findings in peer-reviewed journals and presenting at national and international conferences.

e. Mentorship of Graduate students in research.

• Teaching:

a. Developing and delivering undergraduate and graduate-level courses in sport coaching and related subjects both online and face to face.

b. Designing engaging, evidence-based curriculum and utilizing innovative teaching methods.

c. Providing academic and career guidance to students, including supervising graduate theses and dissertations.

d. Mentoring and advising students in academic and research pursuits.

• Service:

a. Participating in departmental, university, and professional service activities.

b. Contributing to curriculum development, committee work, and community outreach initiatives.

c. Engaging in collaborative projects within and outside the institution.

d. Assisting with the assessment and evaluation of programs.