It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our dear friend, R. Wayne Drummond, FAIA, Dean Emeritus and Professor Emeritus of Architecture, who was a beloved colleague, teacher, mentor, friend and so much more to the alumni, students, staff and faculty of the College of Architecture. He led the college with pride for more than 11 years as its dean, serving as the college’s second dean from 2000 until his retirement in 2011 and leaving a lasting legacy of leadership, collegiality and devotion to architectural education.
A fellow of the American Institute of Architects since 1996, Wayne Drummond dedicated nearly four decades to advancing the field of architecture through both professional practice and academic leadership. His administrative career spanned leadership roles at Auburn University, Texas Tech University, the University of Florida and finally at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, where he found a lasting professional and personal home within the College of Architecture.
Wayne’s impact extended well beyond the United States. He served as an educational consultant and evaluator for numerous architectural programs in the Middle East and Far East, including a year as senior research associate and educational consultant to King Faisal University’s College of Architecture and Planning in Saudi Arabia. His international work reflected his deep commitment to advancing architectural education globally and sharing the values of design excellence and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Reflecting on his years of service, Wayne once said, “It’s always difficult to reflect on one’s many years of service, however, they were all great! We began with great aspirations during some of the most difficult budget years for UNL. Instead of expansion, the major hallmarks of success were defined by developing core programs… Overall, the major accomplishment was saving the college to remain independent, and it continues to thrive under new leadership.”
Among his proudest accomplishments as dean were:
• Establishing and achieving accreditation for the Bachelor of Landscape Architecture program.
• Creating the China Study Abroad program, led by Professor Mark Hoistad and supported by alumnus Scott Killinger, which complemented the college’s longstanding London Program and expanded opportunities for students in Europe.
• Fostering collaborations with the College of Journalism and Mass Communications, the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts and the College of Engineering’s Durham School of Engineering and Construction, advancing interdisciplinary teaching and research.
Even after retirement, Wayne remained deeply connected to the college community. He continued to mentor M.Arch design thesis students, co-teach courses in health care design and professional practice and guide the college’s public and private health care initiative, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to students and to the profession he loved.
His legacy of generosity and support for students also lives on through the Wayne Drummond Scholarship in Health Care, first awarded in 2016. This scholarship reflects his passion for health care design and continues to benefit students today — a testament to his enduring commitment to education and the next generation of designers.
A native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Wayne earned a Master of Architecture from Rice University, a Bachelor of Architecture from Louisiana State University and a diploma in architecture from the Fontainebleau School of Music and Fine Arts in France. His career also included time in private practice in Texas, Kansas and Washington, D.C., and teaching appointments at Rice, Clemson, Auburn and Kansas before his long and impactful administrative service.
Wayne Drummond will be remembered not only as a talented architect and visionary academic leader but also as a mentor, colleague and friend whose influence shaped generations of designers, planners and educators. His leadership helped secure the college’s independence and reinforced its enduring spirit of collaboration, excellence and innovation.
Our hearts are with his family as they navigate this difficult time. We hold them in our thoughts and will share information about celebration of life services as it becomes available.
