A reflection from the Hammons School of Architecture (HSA): Dr. Panos Leventis
Campus, Feature April 11, 2026, 0 Comment“Life is sort of like a dance. You do one thing, and you’re partnered with life. And then, life takes the next step for you. You see what that step is, you follow, and back and forth,” retiring professor Dr. Panos Leventis told The Mirror as he takes his next step in his life.
Dr. Leventis, who has been with Drury for 22 years, first started teaching at Drury University part-time at a satellite campus in Volos, Greece. He then transitioned to teach full-time, teaching studios for students studying abroad. In 2007, Leventis became the Director of the Drury Campus in Greece, where he moved the program just south of Athens, and in 2018, Dr. Leventis started teaching full-time in Springfield.
When asked about why he chose to teach at Drury, he describes it as a “series of happy accidents.” Dr. Leventis’ PhD supervisor, Ricardo Castro, recommended Dr. Leventis to keep teaching and connected him with a friend working from Drury’s satellite campus in Greece. Dr. Leventis originally wanted to return to the architecture profession; however, he decided to give teaching a chance. “I started teaching one class, then two, then full time, then partly here [in Springfield], then fully here,” he recounted.
David Beach, Associate Dean and Professor of HSA, reflected on his time working with Dr. Leventis. “Panos has a gift of balancing high student expectations but having compassion and empathy in which he brings amazing work out of students,” he said.
Many students have a similar sentiment towards the way Dr. Leventis has taught them. “His mentorship has shaped the way I think about the design process in ways I’ll carry with me after graduation and into the profession. He set the bar extremely high and made sure I reached it, whether I thought I could or not,” writes Braydon Roth, a current 5th year architecture student.
“He’s got a rigor in his own scholarship that allows him to do things at depth, and he’s very thoughtful in how he does that,” Joshua Nason, Dean and Professor of HSA states about his time working with Dr. Leventis. Many faculty in Hammons School of Architecture describe Dr. Leventis as a “tremendous mentor” and someone with “a wealth of knowledge.” Dr. Robert Weddle, professor in HSA stated Dr. Leventis as “someone who gives more then he has too.”
“The one-on-one learning experiences [at Drury}…is special about this place. And, I think that creates unique bonds and unique experiences, both for students and for faculty, because we also grow as teachers,” Dr. Leventis commented.
“What stands out most about Professor Leventis is how deeply he cares—not just about architecture, but about his students as people, and their continued success,” Roth continued. Dr. Leventis has taught students in ways that will impact the way we think for the rest of our lives. His knowledge has made HSA a special place.
While his time teaching will come to an end, the time he has spent with us will forever inspire us to keep learning. He left one final piece of advice as he departs: “If life can teach you anything, [its] that you should always be learning. You should always seek new experiences and opportunities to help the people living these chapter of life with you.”
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