Laura Kruger

Laura Kruger, Ed.D., CHES

Chair, Department of Marketing, Fashion Merchandising and Sport Management
Assistant Professor of Marketing and Sport Management

224 Dauch College of Business and Economics
lkruger@ashland.edu
419-207-6364
Department(s)
Marketing
Sport Management
College
College of Business & Economics
Area of Specialty
Marketing and Sport Management, Worksite Wellness
Biography
  • Originally joined Ashland University in 2006 as a staff member, then joined as a full-time faculty member from 2010-2016. Returned as Assistant Professor in 2023.
  • Passionate about the well-being of student-athletes and enhancing employee wellness.
  • Oversees the annual AU x Special Olympics, alongside the Ohio chapter of Special Olympics, to host a sports day for K-12 students from local school district (Ashland University)
  • Brought 25 students to participate in the NCAA Division 1 Women’s Final Four game and lead activities at TourneyTown (2024); planned a trip for 20 students to visit New Orleans, LA, for a “Sports in Louisiana” trip before the SuperBowl (2025) which included exposure to NFL media night, NBA professionals, LSU full tour, etc. (Ashland University)
  • Earned Honorary Faculty Coach award (2024), from student-athlete nominations, which recognized her excellence in teaching from the AU football team.
  • Cultivated partnerships with sport management professionals (i.e., Minnesota Twins, Sioux City Musketeers and Explorers, etc.), marketed academic programs, and oversaw sport internship and field experiences (University of South Dakota). 
  • Earned multiple “Excellence in Teaching” awards within the college and university levels and was elected to serve as “Pie the Professor” from a Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and received “Professor of the Game” honor which recognized my excellence in teaching (University of South Dakota).
  • Heavily embedded in athletic communities (Olympic athletes, rising Olympic hopefuls, intercollegiate student-athletes, etc.) and attended two Olympic Games.
  • Laura founded her own business which helps adults and intercollegiate student-athletes enhance their well-being, decrease stress, employ healthy behaviors and overcome health challenges.
  • As an Ashland University alumnus (’04), Laura was involved as an undergraduate Tour Guide and Leader, Resident Assistant, member of Alpha Delta Pi, Recreational Services, and Campus Activities Board. National recipient of the ‘Undergraduate of the Year Award’ from the American Association for Health Education.
  • Experienced in coordinating large events, budget management, hiring/training/evaluating 100+ student & staff employees.
  • Skilled at orchestrating monthly employee wellness initiatives and marketing strategies as part of university-wide worksite wellness programs; implemented indoor walking paths and piloted yearly employee health screenings for 100+ individuals; earned Ohio state recognition at the “Building Healthy Academic Communities” summit (Ashland University).
  • Originally from Buffalo, New York. Laura is married to A.G. Kruger, a 3x USA Olympian, and has two children, Geo and Marina.
Education
  • University of South Dakota- Ed.D.
  • Kent State University- M.Ed.
  • Ashland University- B.S. in Ed.

Certifications:

  • Digital Marketing Institute (DMI)- Social Media Marketing: Certified Digital Marketing Associate
  • The QPR Institute- QPR Gatekeeper training