Dr. Carrice Cummins, associate professor of curriculum, instruction and leadership in the College of Education at Louisiana Tech University, will serve as vice-president and president-elect for 2012 of the International Reading Association. “This honor is the apex of my career as it marks an exciting achievement while opening doors for unbelievable professional development for my continued growth in the profession,” said Cummins.  “Literacy, and all that it encompasses, has been such an integral part of my life.” Cummins has been a faculty member in the College of Education since 2003.  Prior to arriving at Tech, she worked for 29 years in the PK-12 school setting as a classroom teacher, elementary school principal, and a central office supervisor. As a longtime member of the Louisiana Reading Association, Cummins has served as president, Membership Director, and chair of numerous committees.  Currently, she serves the association as conference chair, president of the College Teachers of Reading Special Interest Council, and the editor of the state journal, READ: Reading, Exploration, and Discovery. In 2004, Cummins received the Wright Group Seeing the Learner in Every Child Award. “Dr. Cummins is an example of an excellent professional who has contributed significantly to the field through her teaching, scholarship, and service,” said Dr. Jo Ann Dauzat, dean and professor emeriti in Louisiana Tech’s College of Education.  “She is respected and admired by reading educators throughout the United States and beyond, and is an example of an educator whose work has truly made a difference.” “It seems most appropriate that she should hold leadership roles in the International Reading Association, as she has certainly been a leader in reading education in the state and region.” The International Reading Association is a globally-recognized and respected organization whose mission is to promote reading by continuously advancing the quality of literacy instruction and research worldwide. “So many of the professional development opportunities that I have had come from my association with this organization and the wonderful literacy professionals whom I call friends,” said Cummins. “Through this new role, I will become a stronger professional and will have opportunities to directly collaborate with experts in my field and to be exposed to the most current literacy information, all of which I can bring back to my students and my colleagues in Louisiana Tech’s College of Education.” Written by Dave Guerin – dguerin@latech.edu