Alisha Parker named Director of Sports Nutrition

FRESNO, Calif. – Fresno State Senior Associate Athletics Director Carrie Coll announced on Tuesday that Alisha Parker has been named the Director of Sports Nutrition for Fresno State Athletics.

Fresno State Athletics is introducing the Director of Sports Nutrition position for the first time this year.

"We continue to strive in every category to develop our student-athletes both on and off the field," said Coll. "The addition of the Director of Sports Nutrition will allow us to support all our teams with nutrition education and fueling to help them perform at the highest level in the classroom and their chosen sport."

Proper nutrition is vital to the success of any collegiate student-athlete in order to make the most of all the hard work that gets put into their training. With the assistance of the new Director of Sports Nutrition, the Bulldog student-athletes will receive guidance and education to fuel their overall success.

In her role with the program, Parker will work closely with the sports medicine staff and strength and conditioning staff in support of the nutritional goals of the Bulldog coaches and student-athletes. Within this collaborative group, they will work to enhance the overall objective of meeting the sports performance goals of all the department's intercollegiate athletic teams.

"This is a long awaited appointment that further exhibits our commitment to our student-athletes to match the ever-increasing performance demands in modern college athletics we face every day," said women's soccer head coach Brian Zwaschka. "Having a specialist to oversee the specific needs per sport is invaluable to the teams and individuals that are striving to improve every day. The nutrition component is vital and cannot be ignored by serious coaches and athletes. This hire is a very important step for the athletics department."

Parker brings years of extensive nutritional work experience with her to Fresno State. Most recently she worked as the Sports Dietitian for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, the Advanced-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. With the Pelicans, Parker coordinated pre- and post-game meals at home and on the road, conducted individualized nutritional counseling sessions and provided ongoing communication with the strength and conditioning staff and athletic trainer regarding the nutritional issues affecting each athlete.

Prior to her time with the Pelicans, Parker worked as a performance dietitian for Personal Relationships (PRI), an outpatient counseling center for eating disorders in Alabama, where she conducted individualized nutritional counseling sessions. She also developed educational material for clients as far as simple menu plans and recipes. During her tenure at PRI, Parker served as a guest speaker on Birmingham's WDJC 93.7 local radio station as a part of the "Help Along the Way" segment to discuss hydration during physical activities, fueling for performance, on-the-go snack options and other nutritional topics.

Parker also held dietitian positions at Provant (2016-17) and EXOS (2015). For both employers, she conducted individualized nutritional counseling sessions and worked towards finding the ultimate wellness goal for each of her clients.

"Anytime you have a professional person with expertise in a particular field, it brings a great deal of opportunity for our student-athletes to be able to improve their lifestyle," said head men's basketball coach Rodney Terry. "It is about a lifestyle, not just here at Fresno State, but later in life in terms of how they eat, what they eat and how to take care of their bodies at a high level."

Parker got her start in collegiate athletics in August 2011 as a student volunteer while working towards her Bachelor of Science in Dietetics and Nutrition from the University of Alabama. In June of the following year, after receiving her degree in December, she advanced to become a student assistant with the Tide's athletics department for the next six months.

In August 2013, Parker went on to study at the University of Mississippi to attain her Master of Science in Food and Nutrition Services. While working towards her degree, she held a graduate assistant position with the University of Mississippi Department of Nutrition and Hospitality Management. There, she instructed weight management classes through the campus' nutritional clinic, conducted body composition testing and collected and analyzed research data. Parker received her M.S. in Food and Nutrition Services in May 2014.

"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" – The Bulldog Scholarship Fund gives Bulldog alumni, fans and friends the opportunity to support Fresno State Athletics and the student-athletes who inspire them. For information about how you can support the Bulldog Scholarship Fund, please visit www.bulldogscholarshipfund.com or call 559-278-7160.

Fresno State Athletics

Alisha Parker named Director of Sports Nutrition

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