"Assistant Professor in Sport Leadership and Strategy (Tenure-Track or Professor of Practice)"

The Department of Kinesiology at Berry College invites applications for either a tenure-track Assistant Professor or an Assistant Professor of Practice position in Sport Leadership and Strategy (SLS) to begin August 2026. The ideal candidate will have a collaborative mindset, ready to work with colleagues in other academic departments, Berry College Athletics, and local partners. The department seeks a faculty member who is committed to excellent undergraduate teaching and demonstrates a strong interest in mentoring students in a residential college environment.

For a tenure-track position:

Ideal candidates will show promise in establishing a productive line of research that will involve undergraduates as co-investigators.

For a professor of practice position:

Ideal candidates will demonstrate significant professional sport industry experience, industry networking, and real-word project facilitation.

Candidates for either classification will facilitate firsthand student learning by establishing partnerships with external stakeholders at regional and national levels. All Berry faculty are expected to serve as academic advisors, involve undergraduates in their work with community partners, and contribute to the vitality of the campus and discipline.

The department is a collegial, five-person team committed to providing applied and experiential learning inside and outside the classroom. A solid commitment to building connections with diverse student populations and external partners exists through community-based projects, internships, and career-centered work opportunities. Students work alongside partners from organizations such as the Rome Emperors (MiLB), the Rome-Floyd Parks & Recreation, and the YMCA of Rome & Floyd County. SLS faculty also partner with Berry's Intercollegiate Athletics Department (DIII), the Rome Tennis Center, Stonebridge Golf Course, and numerous sports and leisure organizations in Northwest Georgia. The program is housed in the Cage Center, a state-of-the-art 131,000 sq. ft. facility, with a natatorium, expansive fitness center, racquetball courts, auxiliary gymnasium, and an indoor walk/jog track among its many amenities. Kinesiology also has dedicated classroom space in a new 35,000 sqft health-sciences building that also houses Nursing and a graduate Physician Associate Program.

Primary teaching responsibilities include governance and policy, facility and event management, revenue streams and budgeting, and legal and ethical issues in sport. The ability to design and teach a course focused on emerging sports and opportunities is a plus.

Requirements:

• Tenure-track: Ph.D. in Sport Management or a related field by August 2026 (ABD considered with completion by start date).
• Professor of Practice: Master's degree in Sport Management or a related field AND substantial sport industry leadership experience. Doctorate preferred, but not required; candidates actively working toward a doctorate (ABD or otherwise) are encouraged to apply.

Additional Information:

ABOUT BERRY COLLEGE

Berry is a selective independent college of 2,200 students located adjacent to Rome, GA, midway between Atlanta, GA, and Chattanooga, TN. Berry's educational approach deliberately unites challenging academic programs with practical work experience in a residential campus community that encourages faith and emphasizes caring for the needs of others above self. Our mission and values are grounded in the ethic that our founder instilled more than a century ago: "We educate the head, heart, and hands - to inspire leaders of integrity who cultivate thriving communities." Nationally recognized for quality of learning and quality of life, Berry offers first-rate undergraduate degree programs in the sciences, humanities, arts, and human sciences, as well as undergraduate and master's level opportunities in business and teacher education. The College's stunning 27,000-acre campus affords opportunities that cannot be duplicated elsewhere. Berry's ongoing commitment is to provide exceptional educational experiences to talented students from a wide range of social, racial, and economic backgrounds.

COLLEGE COMMITMENTS

Berry College is committed to recruiting and supporting a diverse faculty and staff. As an equal opportunity institution, Berry complies with all applicable laws and provisions prohibiting discrimination in its educational and employment policies. Berry respects the essential dignity of all individuals and accordingly hires and promotes employees without regard to matters of personal identity such as race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, and political affiliation. Berry College is committed to ensuring that facilities, programs, services, and activities are accessible to everyone, including those seeking employment at Berry College. Inquiries about interviews or workplace accommodations are welcome. You can reach out to us at employment@berry.edu or (706) 233-4062.

Application Instructions:

Applicants should submit a letter of application describing the candidate's interest in this position and commitment to the Berry mission and values (linked above); a curriculum vitae; a teaching statement that should articulate the candidate's teaching approach, experience, and goals; a statement of research plans (for tenure track positions); unofficial undergraduate and graduate transcripts; and names and contact information of three references. Review of applications will begin on October 1st and will continue until the position is filled. Specific questions about the position may be sent directly to the chair of the Department of Kinesiology, Dr. David Elmer (delmer@berry.edu).