Description

POSITION     Assistant Professor, Nutrition and Food Safety, Family & Consumer Sciences Department. 
This is a 12-Month Tenure-Track Position and 100% Extension position.

LOCATION    The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Knoxville, Tennessee

EFFECTIVE DATE Screening of applicants' credentials will begin February 6, 2023, and continue until 
the position is filled.

SALARY and BENEFITS

Salary will be commensurate with training and experience. Benefits include group hospitalization 
and life insurance; vision and dental insurance; State Employees Retirement; workers' compensation; 
education, generous sick and annual leave; numerous University of Tennessee and state benefit 
programs, including liberal time off for holidays and longevity pay after three years of service; 
reimbursement provided for official travel; no State income tax.

The position of Assistant Professor, Nutrition, is responsible to the Extension Assistant Dean and 
Department Head of Family & Consumer Sciences (FCS). This position will work to develop and teach 
effective, research- based nutrition programs across the state, which enhance the lives of 
Tennesseans. This position will also work collaboratively with cross-functional teams within and 
outside of the FCS department and the university to contribute to the mission of the FCS 
department, UT Extension, and the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA).

RESPONSIBILITIES
•  Plan, develop and implement research-based adult and youth Extension programs in nutrition to 
promote safe food handling practices, healthful dietary habits, and to improve health and 
nutritional status among Tennesseans, including, but not limited to, Extension programs for 
diet-related disease prevention and management, food safety, and food preservation.

Requirements

RESPONSIBILITIES (continued)
•  Provide interpretation and application of current research, emerging issues, and legislation 
related to the above topics and utilize a collaborative team approach to guide the direction of 
Extension programming to address needs in Tennessee.
•  Develop networks and coalitions with state, regional and national groups serving the same 
clientele and keep the program leadership team and county faculty aware of the networks and their 
resources.
•  Evaluate the need, develop and revise electronic and print media, curricula, lesson plans, 
brochures, fact sheets and other educational materials for dissemination by county staff to 
targeted clientele.
•  Evaluate the effectiveness and impact of state-wide programs in the above program areas; report 
to the appropriate state and national agencies and to program stakeholders.
•  Provide leadership and technical guidance to county Extension agents/educators in the area of 
nutrition and food safety by phone, email, on-line training and in-service training. Technical 
guidance includes interpreting current research findings, needs assessments, educational 
strategies, evaluation methods, data collection, data interpretation, coalition building, and staff 
development and mentoring.
•  Collaborate with Extension professionals and subject matter experts, including those within the 
University of Tennessee System, state agencies, and community organizations.
•  Develop and maintain expertise in nutrition by publishing peer-reviewed journal 
articles/Extension publications, attending and presenting at professional meetings and belonging to 
relevant professional organizations.
•  Seek internal and external resources to support and enhance programs.
•  Provide service and leadership to activities within the department, the university and 
professional organizations as appropriate.
•  Provide leadership for a program of activities which meets the needs of all eligible clientele 
regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, religion or veteran status.

QUALIFICATIONS
•  Earned doctorate or ABD in Human Nutrition and Dietetics, including other degrees such as, but 
not limited to, Food Science, Public Health, Community Health, and Family & Consumer Sciences
•  Strong interpersonal skills and ability to interact effectively with diverse groups and on 
interdisciplinary teams
•  Strong organizational skills
•  Demonstrated ability to develop and implement curricula appropriate for youth and adult 
audiences
•  Demonstrated ability to serve as a supportive team member both in a leadership and membership 
role
•  Excellent written and verbal communication skills
•  Evidence of scholarship through scientific presentations and publications
•  Evidence of good teaching skills with professionals and clientele
•  Evidence of grant experience
•  Training or experience in needs assessment and evaluation
•  Strongly Preferred: Registered Dietitian (RD, RDN)

PREFERENCES
•  Extension experience
•  Food safety and/or food preservation experience
•  Volunteer development experience

DEPARTMENT, UNIVERSITY, and COMMUNITY

UT Extension FCS (https://fcs.tennessee.edu/) is the University of Tennessee at work in the 
community. At the departmental level, FCS faculty use research-based information to lead programs 
and train field educators to help Tennesseans gain knowledge and develop confidence in making good 
decisions today and tomorrow. Our success in helping consumers improve their well-being results in 
economic benefits for individuals, families, and communities. UT FCS Extension is comprised of a 
supportive multi-disciplinary team of over 30 subject matter

DEPARTMENT, UNIVERSITY, and COMMUNITY (continued)

specialists, faculty and staff. Areas of expertise include Community Health, Consumer Economics, 
Nutrition, Human Development, and Evaluation. Join us, and your educational efforts can be used to 
improve the quality of life for Tennesseans!

The University of Tennessee Knoxville (UTK) is the state’s flagship research institution, a campus 
of choice for outstanding undergraduates, and a premier graduate institution. Currently, the 
University has approximately 22,000 undergraduate and 6,000 graduate students. As a land-grant 
university, it is committed to excellence in scholarship, learning and service and aims to enrich 
and elevate society. In 2015, UTK was awarded the Carnegie community engagement classification.

Knoxville is situated in a valley between the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the 
Cumberland Plateau, areas of great beauty and among the most bio-diverse in the U.S. Knoxville is a 
city of 200,000 offering many amenities of urban life. Knoxville has a beautiful and walkable 
downtown, active neighborhoods, and eclectic cultural activities, restaurants, and shopping. Trip 
Advisor recently named Knoxville a Top Ten Destination on the Rise. Knoxville is located within 
easy driving distance to Asheville, Atlanta, and Nashville.

APPLICATION and INQUIRIES

The application should include a letter addressing the required and desired qualifications stated 
in the position announcement, a curriculum vitae, names and contact information of three 
references, three confidential letters of recommendation, and a copy of transcripts showing 
degree(s) conferred. Applicants may apply here: apply.interfolio.com/120722 . Inquiries regarding 
the position should be directed to the chair of the search committee: Dr. Christopher T. Sneed, 
(865) 974-8198 or csneed@utk.edu.