Education: Master of Regional Planning, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 1968; B.A. in German and Art, University of Wisconsin, 1966; Teaching Certificate, Toronto Teaching College, 1961; Diploma A-Lyceum, Netherlands, 1958

Background: Theo van Groll was educated in the Netherlands, Canada and the United States. He has taught at Washington University, the University of North Carolina, and Syracuse University. Since 1972, he has taught at the University of Virginia, where he has held the positions of Associate Dean for Students, Director of Programs Abroad, and Director of the Undergraduate Program in Architecture. He completed a three year term as Director of the International Studies Office of the University in 2001 and has returned to the position of Associate Dean for Student Affairs. Professor van Groll has done research on the development of the islands which make up part of the urban structure of the City of Amsterdam. Recent studios have had their sites in IJburg, the newest of the islands. For more than twenty years, Professor van Groll has taught a furniture design class. Some of his work is interpretive of Gerrit Rietveld's furniture designs and it has been on exhibit at the University of Virginia and Washington University in St. Louis. Other work has been exhibited at the McGuffey Arts Center. In October, 2000 the Virginia Society of the American Institute of Architects recognized the work with Society Honors.
In the City of Charlottesville, Professor van Groll was instrumental in the establishment of the McGuffey Arts Center. He has served on the Board of Architectural Review and he was the President of the North Downtown Neighborhood Association until he moved to Keswick in 1998 where he actively supports the work of P.E.C. (Piedmont Environmental Council). He is a member of the Raven Society of the University of Virginia.