Assistant Professor, Nutrition and Dietetics

Position Title:  Assistant Professor (9 month), Tenure Track, Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD)/Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics (MSND)

Background

The School of Health Sciences at Missouri State University is excited to invite a new colleague to join our dynamic team and contribute to the education of future health professionals. We seek dedicated faculty members who can demonstrate a commitment to inclusive teaching practices, engage in collaborative research, and are committed to meaningful service to the school, college, and university.  This position is a tenure track, nine-month appointment at the Assistant Professor rank. The School of Health Sciences serves a diverse array of student interests and career goals, from pre-health and pre-medicine professions to careers in health and fitness-related fields, education, and public health. Our interprofessional, multidisciplinary School offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs, with majors in biomedical sciences, clinical lab sciences, esports, exercise science, health services, kinesiology, nutrition and dietetics, physical education, public health, sports medicine, and sports and recreation administration.

Responsibilities

The position is a 9-month, tenure-track faculty appointment as an Assistant Professor in the School of Health Sciences. We seek a candidate who can demonstrate a commitment to inclusive teaching practices and experience in clinical nutrition and dietetics, including teaching at the undergraduate and graduate program levels.  The candidate will be knowledgeable about the use of student-focused pedagogy in the seated and online classroom to engage students in the learning process aiming to increase student retention, persistence, and success. The opportunity for teaching summer courses for additional remuneration could be available.

Other duties include mentoring undergraduate and graduate research, advising students, and continuing/developing an active and funded research program. Engage in scholarly activity and in the university mission of public affairs by incorporating cultural competence, ethical leadership, and community engagement. We also seek a candidate who is committed to performing meaningful service on department, college, and university committees; participating in departmental activities; serving their profession/discipline; and completing other related duties as assigned. Successful candidates must be committed to working with diverse student and community populations.

Qualifications

• Earned doctorate from a United States accredited institution in human nutrition, dietetics, or a closely related field.
• Registered Dietitian (RD/RDN) credential from the United States; and Missouri license eligible (or ability to obtain by 8/1/25).
• Demonstrate knowledge of nutrition, dietetics, and research methods, including teaching experience at the undergraduate and graduate college levels.
• Ability to integrate technology into the teaching and learning process.
• Demonstrate potential for peer-reviewed research productivity in a focused area.
• Team-oriented with effective verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills.
• The ability to develop knowledge of, respect for, and skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds is required.

Salary and Benefits

Salary and rank are commensurate with qualifications and experience.  Benefits available include health, vision, life, and dental insurance, as well as a selection of several defined contribution retirement programs.  Dependents and spouses of full-time MSU employees are entitled to tuition waivers for dependents, up to 15 credits/year.  The position is a nine-month appointment.

Requested Start Date

August 11, 2025

Application Materials, Deadline, and Contact 

Screening of applications will begin on January 13, 2025, and will continue until the position is filled. Interested individuals should apply online at https://jobs.missouristate.edu/postings/78096. Application documents to be submitted online are:

1. A cover letter
2. A curriculum vitae
3. The names and contact information of at least three references
4. Unofficial or official copies of all undergraduate and graduate school transcripts
5. A statement of teaching philosophy which must address the teaching responsibilities
6. A research statement including project description, student involvement, and potential collaboration
7. Optional statements or evidence: documentation of teaching excellence, statement that discusses past or future contributions to inclusive excellence in research, teaching and/or outreach, etc.

Official transcripts will be required at the time of hire. Questions may be directed to Dr. Rebecca Woodard, Search Chair at rebeccawoodard@missouristate.edu; Phone: 417-836-5690.

Location and Environment

The School of Health Sciences is one of five academic units in the McQueary College of Health and Human Services with 10 undergraduate and 4 graduate programs of study in human health focused fields. Missouri State University offers a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics, a Dietetic Internship Graduate Certificate Program, and a Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics that are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND®). The nutrition and dietetics programs are housed in the School of Health Sciences, one of five academic schools in the McQueary College of Health and Human Services with a human-focused emphasis on health. The dietetics program offers coursework that supports programs in physical therapy, occupational therapy, physician assistant studies, sports medicine and athletic training, and nursing. The College has an emphasis on interprofessional education and encourages collaboration in teaching, research, and service. For additional information about the programs, see the school’s web site at School of Health Sciences - Missouri State.

Missouri State University is a selective admission, comprehensive university system with a statewide mission in Public Affairs. As the second largest university in the state, Missouri State is home to more than 24,000 students in 102 undergraduate, 61 Master’s, and 7 Doctoral programs, many of which are the state’s strongest and largest of their kind. The university is a diverse and collaborative community, offers support for diverse and international groups, and has collaborative community leadership. The University is strongly committed to faculty development through internal grants programs, summer fellowships, sabbaticals, and the availability of an Academic Development Center. Missouri State University holds honors from noteworthy publications including Forbes magazine, The Princeton Review and U.S. News & World Report. Work for Missouri State. The main campus of Missouri State University is located in the city of Springfield, known as the gateway to the beautiful Ozarks. Springfield has many attractions while still maintaining the feel of a safe community with a strong family focus. The city has been rated by Employment Review as one of the “Top Ten of America’s Best Places to Live and Work”. As a vibrant metropolitan area of 450,000 people, Springfield offers advantages in the areas of low cost of living, superior health care access, excellent public schools, and a wide range of entertainment, recreational, and cultural opportunities.

Additional Information

Missouri State University adheres to a strict non-discrimination policy and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin (including ancestry, or any other subcategory of national origin recognized by applicable law), religion, sex (including marital status, family status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other subcategory of sex recognized by applicable law), age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law in employment or in any program or activity offered or sponsored by the University. Sex discrimination encompasses sexual harassment, which includes sexual violence, and is strictly prohibited by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.

The University is dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse and inclusive faculty and staff committed to teaching and working in a multicultural environment and strongly encourages applications from women, persons from underrepresented ethnic and racial groups, individuals with disabilities and covered veterans.

Employment will require a criminal background check at University Expense.