Professor appointed to leadership post in College of Imaging Arts and Sciences

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Twyla Cummings

Paul and Louise Miller Distinguished Professor Twyla Cummings has been appointed associate dean of RIT’s College of Imaging Arts and Sciences. The appointment is effective immediately.

Cummings came to RIT in 1998 and hopes to utilize her management and marketing, graphic media, and external experience to help the College of Imaging Arts and Sciences to continue to be recognized as leader in arts and technology. She has been interim associate dean since December 2009.

“Our students will shape the future of the industry, and how we prepare them is critical to its long-term viability and success,” says Cummings. “I strive to interject creativity and innovation in every aspect of my work.”

One of Cummings’ many goals for the college includes establishing and maintaining key industry relationships to assist with recruiting, funding, and securing donations in support of academic programs and capital projects.

Cummings, who will finish her term as the Paul and Louise Miller Distinguished Professor, adds she looks forward to providing design, photography, art, publishing, printing, and science industry connections for students to facilitate opportunities for networking, mentoring and career development.

She possesses both a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry and a Master of Science degree in business and industrial management from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. She earned her doctoral degree in management from The Union Institute & University in Cincinnati.

Cummings’ research is focused in the areas of media distribution and printing industry trends. Additionally, she is a frequent speaker on critical trends in post-press and issues impacting the graphic communications industry as a whole. She is past board member of the National Association for Printing Leadership and the Board of Governors for the Research and Engineering Council of National Association for Printing Leadership. She is a member of the prestigious Walter E. Soderstrom and Nonpareil Societies of National Association for Printing Leadership and the Research and Engineering Council.

Cummings resides in Penfield with her husband, Thomas.