Obama Taps GSE Student for Education Job

April 15, 2009 - Glenn Cummings, former Speaker of the House in the Maine House of Representatives and current student in Penn GSE's Executive Doctorate in Higher Education Management, has been selected as deputy assistant secretary of education in the Obama administration. He was offered the administration post by Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.

Cummings' assignment is to the Office of Vocational and Adult Education, where he will oversee the administration of programs related to adult education and literacy, career and technical education, and community colleges.

The programs and grants managed by the Office of Vocational and Adult Education support a wide range of activities that help prepare young people and adults for further education and successful careers. These investments total approximately $1.9 billion annually.

"Education is a vital issue at a vital time," Cummings said in a release. "I'm excited about helping create pathways and passages for American students to succeed in higher education as it's central to their own success and to the success of our country."

As Maine Speaker of the House, Cummings led a bi-partisan effort to increase higher education appropriations. In his time in the legislature, he also chaired the Maine Legislature's education committee, sponsored legislation to create the state's community college system, and advocated for a policy by which every Maine high school graduate must fill out a college application.

He is currently dean of advancement at Southern Maine Community College and recently served as Co-Chair of the Obama for Maine campaign.

Cummings holds advanced degrees in education and public administration from Brown University and Harvard University. He began his career in education as a history and economics teacher at Gorham High School.

Media contact: Jill DiSanto-Haines at 215-898-4820 or jdisanto@upenn.edu