Larry Lemke

Lawrence D. Lemke is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at Central Michigan University.  Larry earned a B.S. in Geology from Michigan State University, an M.S. in Geosciences from the University of Arizona, an M.B.A. from the University of Denver, and a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from the University of Michigan. His educational and professional career path carried him around the world prior to returning him to Detroit, the city where he was born.  Larry spent 12 years working for Exxon and its subsidiaries exploring for oil and gas in the Rocky Mountains, the Gulf of Mexico, the North Sea, and The Peoples’ Republic of China.  At Wayne State, his research investigates the fate and transport of contaminants in groundwater, air, and soil, with particular emphasis on human health and exposure risks in urban environments. Larry has been honored as a University of Michigan Teaching Fellow, and has received recognition for his achievements as a teacher-scholar including an NSF CAREER Award, a WSU Career Development Chair, a WSU College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Teaching Award, and a WSU Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching.  Larry has served as a research mentor to 9 graduate and 40 undergraduate students, co-authored nearly 30 peer-reviewed articles and technical reports, and developed teaching materials in hydrogeology, sedimentology, and environmental geology.  Three of his peer-reviewed contributions to the NSF On-the-Cutting-Edge teaching collection received ‘Exemplary’ ratings.