Professor
Educational Administration and Foundations
Phone: 713-313-7343
Email: cummings_jr@tsu.edu
Primary Research Focus
School Renewal, Restructuring and Improvement, Instructional Leadership, Politics
and Law in School Affairs
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Professional Biography
Dr. Cummings was born in Jenkins, Kentucky. He completed his primary and secondary
education in the Dayton, Ohio public schools. His undergraduate degree was received
at Central State University, Wilberforce, Ohio. While attending this historically
Black university he was a member of the varsity basketball team that began the university's
winning basketball tradition in the Midwest Athletic Association Conference. The
university won two national NAIA championships in1965 and 1967. In 1979 Dr. Cummings
was the first CSU student-athlete selected to both the Athletic and Achievement Hall
of Fame. He went on to receive a Masters Degree in Educational Administration from
Cleveland State University. In 1974 he received a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership
as a Ford Fellow from The Ohio State University.
Over his forty years of service, Dr. Cummings has worked as a teacher, administrator,
professor, advisor, organizational president, and lecturer to public and private entities
across the country. He previously served as Executive Deputy Commissioner of the
Texas Education Agency and State Director of the Career and Technology Education system
for ten years. For eight years, he has chaired Task Force III that manages and implements
NABSE's Demonstration Schools/Communities Initiative.
He currently serves as Dean of the College of Education and professor of Educational
Administration at Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas. He was actively involved
with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools wherein he served as Board member
of the Committee on Accreditation and School Improvement (CASI). The Southern Association
of Colleges and Schools is a regional accrediting body for eleven southern states.
Dr. Cummings is a Founding Board member for AdvanceED, a P-12 accrediting association
that serves 30 states and 65 countries. It is a partnership between the North Central
Association, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and the National Society
for the Study of Education.
Dr. Cummings has made numerous presentations to national organizations including:
The National Alliance of Black School Educators; The National Association for State
Directors of Career and Technology Education; and the Washington, D.C. based United
States Information Agency. He served as an editor and author of a 2006 publication
entitled "Cultural and Educational Excellence Revisited: Knowing, Doing, Being and
Becoming as Though Saving the African American Child Matters".
His many awards are highlighted by the Outstanding Graduate Award from the college
of education at The Ohio State University; the Honorary Emeritus Award from the National
Association for State Directors of Career & Technology Education; the President and
Founders Award from the Texas Alliance of Black School Educators; and the W.E.B. Dubois
Higher Education Award from NABSE in 2005.
In addition to serving in very important roles as an educational professional, Dr.
Jay Cummings has distinguished himself through contributions to the Southern Association
of Colleges and Schools (SACS) as follows:
- Chaired the Special Committee to develop standards for Career and Technical Education
as part of the Council on Middle and High Schools;
- Served on the Board of the Council and the Committee to select the replacement for
the retiring Dr. James Stiltner;
- Maintained an association with the Texas Council as an active member while participating
on the Board SACS CASI and as a Founding Board Member of AdvancED;
- Selected to participate in the International Academy of Accreditors and as a member
of the Board for AdvancED, Inc.; and
- Appointed to the Postsecondary Review Council of AdvancED.
Courses Taught
EDAS 980 – Policy Development
EDAS 999 – Doctoral Dissertation
Academic Degrees
Ph.D. The Ohio State University
M.Ed. Cleveland State University
B.S. Central State University
