GeoInspirations: Meet Dorothy Drummond, an Educator Always on the Move
Dorothy Drummond exemplified what it means to think geographically. Her work—spanning textbooks, essays, lectures, travel programs, and educational media—was shaped by a deep appreciation for history, place, and human connection. Whether writing, teaching, or guiding educators across the globe, she consistently approached the world through a geographic lens that emphasized relationships, context, and meaning.
Her professional journey began in New York City, where she served as assistant to the editor of The Geographical Review, published by the American Geographical Society. That early exposure to scholarly geography laid the groundwork for a career that would bridge academia, publishing, and public education. Over time, she authored and co-authored four world cultures textbooks, contributed articles to academic journals, wrote numerous encyclopedia entries, and advised on the production of educational films.
Drummond’s academic path reflected her interdisciplinary roots. She earned her undergraduate degree at Valparaiso University before completing a master’s degree in geography at Northwestern University. Geography became the framework that unified her earlier studies in history and English, transforming scattered knowledge into an integrated way of thinking about the world. That intellectual shift, sparked by a single undergraduate course in world geography, ultimately defined her professional life.
She went on to teach World Geography for more than three decades at Indiana State University and Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. Beyond the classroom, she delivered hundreds of presentations to students, educators, civic organizations, policymakers, and community groups. For decades, her voice remained a familiar and respected presence at geography and education conferences, where she eagerly shared insights from her writing, teaching, and travels.
Drummond often spoke about the diversity of paths into geography. During her graduate studies, she was the only woman in a cohort otherwise composed of men who entered the field through scientific disciplines. Her own route came through the humanities, reinforcing her belief that geography thrives at the intersection of science, history, and storytelling. Her ability to write clearly and compellingly opened doors early in her career, leading professors to invite her into collaborative projects. She frequently encouraged students to develop their writing skills, noting that communication is as essential to geography as data or maps.
Among her proudest accomplishments were her world cultures textbooks for middle and high school students. These works went through multiple editions and reached wide audiences. Her guiding objective was always the same: help learners grasp the broader patterns and connections of the world without becoming overwhelmed by excessive detail, while keeping curiosity and engagement alive.
Travel was another cornerstone of her educational philosophy. Drummond founded and led international travel programs for teachers, believing that educators should experience the world firsthand while they were still actively teaching—not only after retirement. Over two decades, she guided teachers to destinations ranging from China and Turkey to Peru and New Zealand. She worked deliberately to make these journeys financially accessible, convinced that immersion in other cultures sharpens geographic thinking in ways no textbook can replicate.
Long-term collaboration also shaped her career. For 30 years, she co-authored work with Clyde Kohn, her mentor at Northwestern University, who later led the geography department at the University of Iowa and served as president of both NCGE and AAG. She was deeply honored to write his obituary. Another major influence was Harm de Blij, whose exceptional ability to explain geography to broad audiences inspired her own approach to public scholarship.
Drummond’s travels—spanning more than 70 countries—frequently sparked new questions and writing projects. A visit to Israel and Palestine in 2000 led her to confront a question she could not ignore: how two groups came to claim the same land, and why that claim has fueled so much conflict. What began as a personal writing exercise grew into the book Holy Land, Whose Land? Modern Dilemma, Ancient Roots, which sold approximately 17,000 copies. Though the print edition later went out of circulation, a digital version remains available. She often noted that such work would have been impossible without her grounding in both history and geography.
Throughout her career, Drummond remained concerned about public misunderstandings of geography. Many people, she observed, equated the discipline solely with memorization—states, capitals, rivers, and borders. While foundational knowledge matters, she argued that geography’s true power lies in asking deeper questions: Where is something located? Why is it there? And why does that matter? She believed geography should be central to conversations about STEM, environment, and global change, and that educators bear responsibility for making the field accessible and relevant to the public.
Her curiosity never faded. She marveled at examples of learning around the world, such as community coding classes held in Indonesian convenience stores. Reflecting later in life, she admitted she would have embraced more technology if given the chance to start over. In 2016, she traveled to India with colleagues involved in a microloan initiative, spending days in small villages and continuing to learn through observation and experience.
Dorothy Drummond passed away on November 30, 2018, while traveling in China—doing exactly what she loved most. Those who knew her remember not only her knowledge and stories, but her genuine interest in others and her unwavering curiosity. Her life stands as a powerful example of lifelong learning, intellectual generosity, and the enduring value of geography.
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