Drummond Receives Hollon Family Award

During his 25 years teaching off-campus courses, University of Wyoming Department of Management and Marketing Associate Professor Kent Drummond has used the emergent and evolving technologies of the day -- from the early days of recording his lectures on VHS tape to use of today’s online advances.

Through all of the changes, one constant has remained: Drummond has developed a reputation for adopting the newest technologies to enhance the learning experiences of UW students around the state.

His teaching skills have earned him the Hollon Family Award for Teaching Excellence in Off-campus Programs. He teaches mainly introduction to marketing courses.

Drummond's commitment to students is matched only by his commitment to the principles and values of online education. He has persuaded colleagues in business, the humanities and the social sciences to teach outreach classes. Drummond has served on committees in support of outreach education, and has worked with study abroad students and enhanced their capabilities to engage in non-traditional learning methods.

“To acknowledge his contributions to the off-campus mission of UW is both appropriate and timely. Kent's goal in teaching through the Outreach program is to create meaningful relationships with students who may never meet him in person,” interim Department of Management and Marketing Department chair Roland Kidwell wrote in his nomination letter. “Beyond his gifts for instruction, Dr. Drummond is able to use the capabilities of off-campus instruction to help students reach their highest potential.”

One student commented on Drummond’s abilities to engage students.

“Dr. Drummond was fabulous, encouraging and very willing to work with you to see to the student's success. I think UW has some incredible online instructors who strive to the success of their students, and this is rare now-a-days,” the student wrote. “I have really enjoyed the course and blessed to have had Dr. Drummond as an instructor.”

Another wrote, “I believe Professor Drummond gave awesome feedback and I felt like he really read my papers and put a lot of thought into the grades. I also appreciate that when I would email him, I would get a response so quickly, unlike some others.”

The true test of an instructor is the enduring impact he or she has on students.

Mike Buchanan, a miner in Gillette, took a class from Drummond more than 15 years ago, but still reaps the dividends today.

"I find myself today, still reflecting on these traits he shared and the confidence it elicited in my performance as a student,” Buchanan says. “More specifically, I achieved more confidence in my creativity as a student, then and now, and when looking to future endeavors. And, as a mentor to others, I try to emulate his skills of empowering successful students.”

Drummond has been at UW since 1990 after earning his doctoral degree (1990) in speech communication from the University of Texas. He received his B.A. (1980) in English literature from Stanford University, and an MBA in marketing (1982) from Northwestern University.