Faculty Profile: Dr. Maurie Luetkemeier
Maurie Luetkemeier came to teach at Alma in 2001 because of the College’s reputation in the exercise and health science field.
“I saw Alma represented by students and faculty at national professional conferences and was impressed with the quality of their research projects,” he says.
Luetkemeier researches fluid balance, which is the study of what people drink and how they use those fluids during exercise.
In Fall 2007 he completed a research sabbatical at the Gatorade Sport Science Institute in Barrington, Ill. The team conducted a study looking at a salty drink and its effects on bicycle performance.
“I have always loved the college environment,” he says. “My father was in agronomy at Purdue University so I grew up in a university setting. I was fortunate enough to have some really influential professors who encouraged me to think about teaching at the college level.”
Luetkemeier earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Ball State University in Muncie, In. and his Ph. D. from Ohio State University.
He is the 2008 recipient of the Barlow Award for Faculty Excellence at Alma College and received an Outstanding Teacher Award and a Mentoring Excellence Award from the University of Utah.
“I have taught at a big university with 28,000 students and now at Alma College with 1,400 students,” he says, “and I really appreciate the close association that we have with students at a smaller school.”
In his spare time, he enjoys playing drums, singing at church, cycling, running and playing basketball.
