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Colin Drury

Colin G. Drury is a SUNY Distinguished Professor Emeritus in the Department of Industrial Engineering at the University at Buffalo. He was born on June 4, 1941 in Skegness, England, and remained in England throughout his childhood, education, and early career. Drury earned a Bachelor of Science with honors in 1962 from the University of Sheffield, where he studied physics, mathematics, and geology. In 1964 he started at the University of Birmingham, where he received a Master of Science degree in Work Design and Ergonomics in 1965, a requirement for the Ph.D. in Engineering Production specializing in Ergonomics he would eventually earn at the same institution in 1968.

After obtaining his Ph.D., Drury became a Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Massachusetts before moving back to England to gain experience as a lecturer and manager of ergonomics. In 1972 he became an Assistant Professor in the Department of Industrial Engineering at the University at Buffalo, where he was promoted to Associate Professor in 1976 and to full Professor in 1979. Drury also served as a Research and Evaluation Director at Lakes Area Emergency Medical Services, Director of Human Factors at BOSTI Inc., and chair of the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at the University at Buffalo. In 1985, Drury became the founding executive director of the Center for Industrial Effectiveness.

Drury became a UB Distinguished Professor in 2002, and was named SUNY Distinguished Professor in 2007. The same year, he stepped down from his position at the University at Buffalo, but continues to perform research at the university.


Affiliation(s): Industrial Engineering
Record Group(s): 18
Biographical File Contains:
  • Photographs