Faculty Profile: Dr. John Davis
Taking the Exercise Health and Science major to new heights, Dr. John Davis has conducted classes on some of the highest peaks in North America. In doing research on altitude physiology, Davis has taken Alma College students on several research trips to the Rocky Mountains in Colorado to study the acute and chronic effects of moderate altitude exposure on exercise and cardiovascular responses.
His other area of research involves exercise and aging. In collaboration with the Michigan Masonic Home, Davis has investigated the use of resistive exercise as a means of improving physical function in the elderly. These studies have demonstrated significant improvements in strength and physical function with this type of exercise.
Davis also teaches one of the few higher education anatomy classes in which undergraduate students work on human cadavers. Along with Human Anatomy, Davis teaches Human Physiology, Exercise Physiology and Biomechanics.
He uses innovative technology and emphasizes hands-on experience to help students develop skills in their chosen majors. His students have presented and published papers nationally and gone on to excel at some of the nation's finest medical and graduate schools.
At Alma, he has received two Barlow Awards for Faculty Excellence and a Posey Award for Faculty and Administrator Excellence in teaching in 2000 and was named Charles A. Dana Professor of Exercise and Health Science in 2003.
