R. Wayne Drummond, dean of the College of Architecture, has announced his intention to retire as dean and return to a faculty position. Drummond has held the post since 2000.
Ellen Weissinger, senior vice chancellor for academic affairs, accepted Drummond’s letter of intention with regret.
“The hallmarks of Wayne’s leadership have been his collegiality and wise counsel. He is widely respected in the architectural community and within the academic community,” she said.
Drummond will leave the dean position effective Aug. 15.
Weissinger said an interim dean will be appointed soon.
“I’m very proud of the strides the faculty have made in terms of the digital era,” he said. “We have new ways to collaborate and communicate within the professions, with other colleges on campus and with other universities, both nationally and internationally.”
He cited the growth of collaborations with the College of Journalism and Mass Communications, the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts and the College of Engineering, particularly its Durham School of Engineering and Construction as examples of interdisciplinary teaching.
Drummond said that after teaching for 42 years, and being an administrator for 32, he believes the time is right to step back and focus on his family. Still he loves the profession and teaching and does not want to walk away entirely.
“I have had a great career; the profession and teaching are my great loves and I will remain a part of that,” he said.
Drummond is widely traveled and has had consultancies, particularly in Saudi Arabia, and teaching experiences in countries in every inhabited continent. He served as president of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture from 1998-1999.
Drummond holds a Master of Architecture from Rice University and a Bachelor of Archictecture from Louisiana State University. He also holds a diploma in architecture from Fountainbleau (France) School of Music and Fine Arts. In addition to Nebraska, Texas Tech and Florida, he has held faculty positions at the University of Kansas, Rice University, Auburn University and Clemson University. He also has worked in the private sector in Kansas City and Washington, D.C., with HDR.
Drummond joined UNL after serving as dean of architecture at the University of Florida. A fellow of the American Institute of Architects since 1996, Drummond was dean at Texas Tech University from 1987-1990 and served as dean at Florida from 1990 to May of 1999, when he stepped down for sabbatical leave.
- Kim Hachiya, University Communications