Maria Louisa Betterton
Maria Luisa Betterton "Luise" was born and raised in Rhodesia present-day Zimbabwe. She received her higher education at the University of Natal Durban in South Africa majoring in French and Psychology. In 1985 she and her husband Professor Eric Betterton (Atmospheric Sciences) came to Pasadena California and in 1988 to the University of Arizona. For 11 years Luise who is multi-lingual worked with Heiko A. Oberman in the newly founded Division for Late Medieval and Reformation Studies. Upon his death in 2001 Luise remained with the division and played an instrumental role in expanding its fundraising. Partly thanks to her efforts the Heiko A. Oberman Chair in Late Medieval and Reformation History is nearly complete and has its first occupant. Luise is the heart and soul of the Division to whom alumni as well as current graduate students look to for friendship and practical advice. She is well known with in the field of early modern European history.