June 29, 2026 | Erin Bluvas, bluvase@sc.edu
Emma Worley has been immersed in the world of college of athletics for the past 10 years, and she plans to spend her career in this type of high-performance setting. It began when she left her small town outside of Detroit, Michigan to play tennis at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Worley spent six years as a Cornhusker – earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nutrition and exercise science, competing as a Division 1 athlete, and gaining hands-on experience. As a strength and conditioning intern and later as a member of the Nebraska Athletic Performance Lab, she learned how to measure and analyze data and develop training plans for student athletes competing in baseball, cross country, golf, gymnastics, soccer, tennis, track & field, volleyball, and wrestling.
My experience with the football program allowed me to bridge the gap between research and real-world application, providing me hands-on exposure that has been invaluable in preparing me for my future career.
“I’ve always been interested in how training, recovery, and overall health can influence athletic performance,” says Worley, who left Nebraska as a five-time Varsity Letter Awardee and Big Ten Distinguished Scholar. “Over time, I began to realize that these principles extend beyond athletes and can impact broader populations, which drew me toward public health.”
Worley understood what it was like to constantly strive to optimize performance, and she began looking for doctoral programs that offered an emphasis on sport science so she could help others reach their potential while staying healthy. After discovering that Arnold School exercise science chair Shawn Arent specialized in this area, she zeroed in on the Ph.D. in Exercise Science program. The opportunity to work with USC Football as a Sports Science Fellow was incredibly appealing as well, she says.
Worley has spent the past four years developing her expertise in sports performance and maximizing athletes’ potential. She is particularly interested in athlete monitoring, training load management, and injury surveillance as well as how these tools can be used to improve performance while also supporting long-term health.
“Dr. Arent has been a key mentor during my time at USC, and his expertise in both research and applied sports performance has had a major influence on my development as a sports scientist and researcher,” Worley says. “My experience with the football program allowed me to bridge the gap between research and real-world application, providing me hands-on exposure that has been invaluable in preparing me for my future career.”
Though she technically graduates in August, that career has already begun. Worley has been working with the Miami Dolphins as an assistant sports scientist since the end of April. She believes her doctoral degree has provided her with a strong foundation in both research and applied practice to prepare her for this role.
As she wraps up her final weeks at USC, Worley reflects fondly on the vibrant environment that Columbia has offered, especially attending sporting events and performances. “Nothing beats Gamecock athletics!” she says.
“Seek out as much hands-on experience as possible and explore a variety of opportunities within the field,” Worley advises future students. “Practical experience not only helps you develop skills but also exposes you to different career paths. It’s also important to build relationships with faculty and mentors. These connections can have a significant impact on your academic growth.”
With a degree in Exercise Science, graduates can choose to work in a variety of settings, either within the gym or in health care clinics. They have a large selection of populations to work with as well, from young children to older adults, from athletes to the disabled.
The Arnold School is proud of our 2026 graduates, who will go on to change the world locally and globally. Learn about some of the other outstanding individuals who completed one of our 34 programs this year.