Business News
2015 Naomi Berber Memorial Award Honors Twyla J. Cummings, PhD
Friday 02. October 2015 - Printing Industries of America (PIA) is pleased to announce that Twyla J. Cummings, PhD, Senior Associate Dean and Professor and Graduate Executive Board Advisor of Rochester Institute of Technology, will receive the 2015 Naomi Berber Memorial Award. This award honors outstanding women in the graphic communications industry for their exceptional record of accomplishments, unusual contributions toward the development of the graphic communications industry, and for having furthered the interests of the industry.
After earning her B.S. in Chemistry at Wright State University, Twyla went on to receive her PhD in Business Management at The Union Institute and University in Cincinnati, OH. Since then, Twyla has a long history of industry involvement, including numerous studies, publications, and presentations focusing on women in the printing industry.
She has participated in and held numerous chair positions on many advisory boards, including the America East Advisory Board, the Newspaper Association of America, and the Research and Engineering Council of NAPL. Additional accomplishments in Twyla’s career include being honored with the RIT Isaac L. Jordan Diversity Award, being a recipient of Rochester Women’s Network 15 Up and Coming Award, being inducted into NAPL’s Walter E. Soderstrom Society, and participating extensively in the YWCA.
Tim Freeman, President, Printing Industries Alliance, nominated Twyla for the Naomi Berber award, seconded by Frank Romano, Professor Emeritus, RIT, in recognition of her achievements in the industry, her outstanding record of mentoring at RIT, and through the many community organizations with which she is involved. The Rochester Institute of Technology has produced graduates who now serve on the Printing Industries Alliance Board of Directors, as well as in various management positions at many member companies throughout the Printing Industries Alliance footprint.
Twyla’s award will be presented at the 2015 PIA Fall Administrative Meeting, November 13, 2015, in Pittsburgh, PA.