CIAS professor named among ‘Women of Distinction’

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Twyla Cummings

Twyla J. Cummings, senior associate dean of the College of Imaging Arts and Sciences and a professor in the School of Media Sciences at Rochester Institute of Technology, is among the newest inductees into the print industry’s Women of Distinction program, sponsored by the OutputLinks Communications Group, a global marketing and publishing firm.

The program recognizes and celebrates the achievements of exceptional women in print communications and graphic arts from around the world. This year’s inductees were recognized at a Sept. 10 gala during the PRINT 13 trade show in Chicago.

“With this newest class, the Women of Distinction program now numbers 90 print professionals,” says Julie Plata, co-CEO of OutputLinks Communications Group. “This award spotlights the rich and ongoing history, skills and knowledge of high-profile women in the world of print. We launched this program 12 years ago to honor the women making key contributions to the industry.”

“This recognition is very special to me since many members are friends and colleagues of mine and I am deeply honored to join them in this program,” Cummings says. “In addition to recognizing me personally, I believe this tribute also is recognition for RIT’s long history of academic excellence and leadership in the printing industry.”

Representing a wide range of professional, technical and management skills, recipients of the Women of Distinction program earn a $5,000 scholarship for future women professionals, funded by the OutputLinks Communications Group and administered by the Electronic Document Scholarship Foundation (EDSF)—a nonprofit foundation dedicated to the document management and print communications industries.

Cummings’ teaching and research at RIT is focused on the areas of media distribution, print industry trends and women in graphic communications. A frequent speaker on critical developments in post-press and issues impacting the graphic communication industry, she is a past board member of the National Association for Printing Leadership (NAPL) and the board of governors for the R & E Council of NAPL. Cummings also is a current member of the prestigious Walter E. Soderstrom and Nonpareil Societies of NAPL and the R & E Council. She presently serves as a member of the America East Advisory Board and chairperson for the 2014 America East Conference.

In addition to earning a bachelor of science degree in chemistry and a master’s degree in business and industrial management from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, Cummings earned her doctoral degree in management from Union Institute and University in Cincinnati.

Also at PRINT 13, RIT’s School of Media Sciences announced curriculum changes in response to semester conversion at the university, while also addressing research of key issues facing the graphic arts industry and announcing new collaborations between industry professionals, students and faculty.