Fusco Joins Big Green Team as Director of Sports Nutrition

HANOVER, N.H. — The Dartmouth Athletics Peak Performance Team (DP2) has announced the hiring of Liz Fusco MS, RDN, CSSD as the Director of Sports Nutrition. Fusco, who will impact student-athletes across all 35 sports, brings with her a wealth of experience to Hanover, most recently serving as Director of Sports Nutrition for USRowing.

"To me, choosing Dartmouth means coming back to New England," said Fusco. "Being given the opportunity to lead and develop DP2's performance nutrition program is a dream I couldn't have imagined when I left home in Berkshire County, Massachusetts back in 2007. I've had the honor and privilege of traveling the world in support of our Olympic athletes for nearly a decade and will forever be grateful for the way those experiences shaped who I am today,"

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

"I have had the opportunity to collaborate with Liz since we prepared for the London Olympic Games. Her expertise, passion, creativity and integrity are characteristics that have allowed Liz to develop and excel as a sport dietitian. As the first full-time sport dietitian at USRowing, Liz developed a successful nutrition program that provided comprehensive support and was integral in their preparation for training and international competitions. She will be an excellent addition to the performance team at Dartmouth!"

— Shawn Hueglin, Senior Sport Dietitian at the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee

"Over the last seven years, I've come to rely on Liz as a critical healthcare provider for USRowing. Her recommendations have been instrumental for peak performance while being accessible to athletes and passionate about her field. She is an invaluable asset to the sports medicine team."

— Dr. Peter Wenger,  Vice-Chairman, US Rowing Medical and Sports Science Committee

"I cannot think of anyone better suited to leading Dartmouth's sports nutrition team than Liz Fusco. Working with Liz has, without a doubt, been one of the highlights of my elite rowing career. Liz's deep understanding of, and true care for, the athletes she works with is evident in her work ethic, dedication to continuing education and deep respect for the science and grey areas of sports nutrition. Liz brings a joy and love to everything she does, and I know that not just the athletes, but also the outing club, the organic farm and the whole student body will benefit from having Liz join the Dartmouth community. Dartmouth is so lucky to have this accomplished, heartfelt, wonderful dietitian become part of the family."

— Molly Reckford '15, two-time Olympian

"Liz  Fusco joins Dartmouth with an extensive background in high-performance sports, including over three Olympic cycles of experience. Her impressive international career spans multiple sports, showcasing her versatile and exemplary leadership abilities. Liz is highly regarded for her wealth of knowledge and exceptional skill in fostering support for athletes and coaches. These attributes make her an invaluable asset and an outstanding addition to the Dartmouth team, where she is poised to contribute significantly in a leadership capacity."

- Cameron Kiosoglous, USRowing Director of National Team Sport Science

During Fusco's eight years with USRowing she designed and implemented comprehensive health and performance programs for athletes throughout the development pipeline at USRowing Training Centers, and at selection and preparation camps nationwide.

"One of the best ways to deliver on DP2's commitment to exceptional student-athlete development and performance support is to hire practitioners already doing this in elite sport," said Austin Driggers, Executive Associate Athletics Director for Peak Performance. "Liz is bringing with her over a decade of experience delivering performance nutrition for the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee as well as USRowing, including current and former Dartmouth practitioners, coaches and student-athletes. 

"This makes her a perfect fit for this new role and sets her up for success from day one."

A number of Dartmouth current and former student-athletes and coaches Fusco has already impacted at USRowing include Big Green rowing Olympians from Paris 2024, Molly Reckford, Oliver Bub, and Billy Bender. In addition, she has worked with current head women's rowing coach John Graves and assistant coach Kendall Brewer as athletes, and worked alongside Wyatt Allen, the Betsy and Mark Gates 1959 Head Coach of Men's Heavyweight Rowing, at various World Championships and throughout Olympic preparation.

From fall, 2016 to spring, 2020, Fusco served as a performance dietitian for USRowing, then stepped into the director role in April of 2021 when international competition resumed following the COVID-19 pandemic. Before that, she was a sports dietetic consultant with the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee from 2015-2020. She also worked with the USOPC as a sports nutrition graduate assistant from 2012-2015. Fusco was a USOPC staff member at the Rio Olympics, and with USRowing at the Tokyo Olympics

In addition, Fusco also founded LizFoodCo, a consulting service for athletes, families, high performance clubs, collegiate, national, and international sport programs. Fusco provides strategic planning and education sessions, tailoring sports nutrition programs to meet the specific needs of athletes in all age categories and levels of sport.

Fusco received concurrent master's of science degrees in nutrition science and exercise physiology from San Diego State University. Prior to receiving her master's, Fusco attended the University of Rhode Island and obtained a Bachelor of Science in nutrition and dietetics, with a minor in kinesiology.

"With Liz's hire, Dartmouth becomes one of only three Ivy League institutions to have this position, and the first and only Ivy to have two full-time sports dietitians housed in athletics — dedicated to serving the nutritional needs of student-athletes," said Driggers.

"My passion lies in creating effective frameworks for sports nutrition service provision in high-level athletics," said Fusco. "I'm excited to expand my skill set amongst an eager and supportive team of highly experienced DP2 staff, and absolutely thrilled to be in The Woods."

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