PhD, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 2012

M.ARCH, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 2002

BS, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, 2000

Before coming to UNL in 2023, Van Den Wymelenberg was the Julie Neupert Stott Chair in Design, the director for the School of Architecture and Environment and the Associate Dean for Research at the University of Oregon’s College of Design. He was also a professor of architecture and previously served as interim head for the Department of Architecture. He founded and directed the Institute for Health in the Built Environment (IHBE) and directed the Biology and the Built Environment Center (BioBE Center) and the Energy Studies in Buildings Laboratory (ESBL) in Portland and Eugene, Oregon. From 2004-2015, Van Den Wymelenberg was a professor at the University of Idaho in Boise where he founded the Integrated Design Lab.

Research & Creative Work

His research and creative practices seek to facilitate integration amongst a broad network of researchers and practitioners on issues concerning health, comfort and sustainability in order to support human, community and planetary health. Since 2004, he has secured over $40M in research funding related to indoor environmental quality and energy efficiency from organizations such as the United States Economic Development Administration, National Science Foundation, United States Environment Protection Agency, United States Department of Energy, United States Department of Agriculture, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance. Garnering interest in the private sector, several companies including design and engineering firms, as well as larger corporations have also invested in Van Den Wymelenberg’s research including Nike, Microsoft, Siemens and Thermo Fisher Scientific. He has published three books, authored over 100 peer-reviewed articles, and he has made nearly 300 invited lectures.

Teaching Pedagogy

Van Den Wymelenberg believes as educators, we have a responsibility to our students to “do university different” in support of individual financial, mental and physical health and well-being. While industry-engaged, practical and experiential pedagogy gains traction at universities across the country, Van Den Wymelenberg is quick to note that the College of Architecture has practiced these principles since its inception. “At the college, we have what the allied professions seek and what the academy and society need. We are positioned to lead and inspire positive, meaningful and impactful change in the planning and design disciplines, across Nebraska and beyond.

Commitment to Justice, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity

As a top priority of the college's N2025 Strategic Plan, Van Den Wymelenberg will help foster an inclusive culture with diverse perspectives united by the transformative power of planning and design. “We are committed to nourishing a culture within the college where everyone feels welcome.” Van Den Wymelenberg elaborates, “justice begins with treating every human with love, dignity and respect. Diversity yields better ideas that are more likely to gain traction. Equity and access ensure that excellence is possible. Inclusivity and a sense of belonging are important for our human spirit, strengthen our college community and enrich the broader communities that we engage.” In order to foster diversity, equity and inclusion within the College of Architecture, we work to understand our implicit biases and implement practices to overcome these biases. We believe that visible, tangible and all-encompassing pursuits of diversity, equity and inclusivity are critical to the success of any organization, and these actions ultimately help to support just communities.