Melinda Valliant
Associate Dean of Faculty and Academic Affairs and Professor of Nutrition and Hospitality Management
Dr. Melinda Valliant received a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition, a Master of Science in Exercise Science, and Doctor of Philosophy in Exercise Science from The University of Mississippi (UM). She joined the UM faculty in January of 2007 and is currently a Professor of Nutrition and the Co-Director of the Center for Health and Sports Performance. She has mentored numerous Masters students and twelve doctoral students and enjoys seeing them succeed.
Research Interests
Sports nutrition in collegiate athletes, Nutrition knowledge and behaviors in different populations
Biography
Dr. Valliant received the Bachelor of Science in Nutrition, Master of Science in Exercise Science and Doctor of Philosophy in Exercise Science from The University of Mississippi. She is currently a Professor in Nutrition and Associate Dean of the School of Applied Sciences at The University of Mississippi as well as the Co-Director of the Center for Health and Sports Performance. In these roles, she teaches graduate and undergraduate courses, mentors future sports nutrition professionals, conducts research and counsels individuals on a variety of nutritional needs including performance nutrition and disordered eating.
Her research interests are sports nutrition knowledge, body composition as is relates to diet, disordered eating/weight management and corporate wellness. She is a co-author of the 2021 Standards of Practice and Standards of Professional Performance for RDNs in Sports and Human Nutrition.
Education
B.S. Family Sciences, The University of Mississippi (1988)
M.S. Exercise Science, The University of Mississippi (1994)
Ph.D. Exercise Science, The University of Mississippi (2005)