Biology Department Remembers Dr. Larry Giesmann

The Department of Biological Sciences mourns the death of long-time faculty member Dr. Larry Giesmann who passed away January 30, 2025.

He joined the department in 1972, just four years after the founding of Northern Kentucky State College and helped to propel its growth as the college grew to become Northern Kentucky University in 1976. As one of the first faculty members in Biological Sciences, he initiated many programs that continue to benefit students today. The most important was probably the creation of the NKU Pre-Medical Review Board in 1974.

“Dr. Giesmann inspired his students. He challenged us to reflect on our goals, to push ourselves beyond our perceived limits, and to strive for excellence,” recalled Dr. Michael Dusing (Class of 1996), one of the hundreds of physicians nurtured by Dr. Giesmann over his 37 years at NKU.

“Dr. Giesman had a remarkable ability to bring out the best in his students. His passion for teaching and his dedication to our success shaped countless careers, including my own. I will always be grateful for the knowledge, discipline, and motivation he instilled in us. His impact was profound, and he will be greatly missed.”

But his impact reached all students, not just those pursing degrees in the health professions.

“My first memory of Dr. Giesmann is from the first day of BIO 150 lecture, when he entered the room wearing monster feet slippers. From that moment on, he made a lasting impression,” said Amy Racke, Assistant Dean and Director of Advising in the NKU College of Arts & Sciences. “Throughout my time in his class, I found myself in his office frequently, asking questions about the material. He was always willing to take the time to answer my questions and ensure I understood the subject matter."

“Dr. Giesmann supported me in my study of Botany, showing me tissue culturing techniques and encouraging me to apply for a Summer Greaves Research Stipend. He fully backed my decision to pursue graduate school, and when I returned to NKU to teach Biology as an adjunct, he would often stop by to ask how things were going. He was an exceptional mentor.”

Debby Dempsey, who earned All-University awards for both her classroom and online teaching, remembered Dr. Giesmann for his excellence in all areas of teaching, research and service. “Larry hired me as the first laboratory preparator in the biology department.  Even then, he was a one-man committee, and very good at everything he did! We taught plant physiology together for several years. He was brilliant!”

At his retirement party in 2009, Dr. Giesmann recalled the incredible opportunity the department’s first faculty had in shaping the university. He challenged the newest faculty members to do the same. “It’s your turn now. Make it what you want it to be, what the students need it to be.”

But his commitment to NKU and the Department of Biological Sciences didn’t end in 2009. He was a frequent visitor to campus and spent countless hours in the greenhouse, often bringing along one of his seven grandchildren to foster their scientific curiosity and knowledge. The manual he wrote about the greenhouse operations is still in use by the Lab Prep staff today.

“Larry took a course in greenhouse management and then applied his skills by volunteering to manage our greenhouse once he retired,” said Dr. Maggie Whitson, a fellow botanist and faculty member in Biological Sciences. “He made sure the fans kept running correctly and that the water-cooling system worked, and that the programs that controlled the climate in each room worked correctly. Larry had a combination of knowledge, enthusiasm, attention to detail, and mechanical savvy that made him the perfect greenhouse Czar. He spoiled us for all others.”

The impact of Dr. Giesmann on the Department of Biological Sciences also included a tremendous generosity. He and his wife Dr. Laura Trice who completed her pre-reqs for medical school at NKU, have been generous donors for many years. As a former athlete himself, they established the Larry Giesmann and Laura Trice Endowed Scholarship to support student-athletes on the men’s cross-country team in 2015. In 2016, he started the Larry Giesmann Biology Scholarship to support Biological Sciences majors. In 2024, the Dr. Larry A. Giesmann Endowed Professorship in Biology was established.

Donations in Dr. Giesmann's honor may be made through the department's fund-raising site. https://supportnku.nku.edu/donations/BioSci