Community college delegation heads for Jordan
By CC Times, Published June 15, 2009

Glenn Cummings, the newly appointed deputy assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Education and a former community college dean, this week will lead a delegation of U.S. community college presidents and researchers to an international conference promoting community colleges in Amman, Jordan.

The delegates—which include George Boggs, president of the American Association of Community Colleges—will join education representatives from the Broader Middle East and North Africa (BMENA) region to make presentations on topics including business and education partnerships that promote workforce development and technological innovations that improve instruction and expand learning options.

Cummings will deliver remarks on President Obama’s education priorities and the importance of international education partnerships during the opening session Tuesday.

“We want to reinforce the message that the administration values community colleges as a means to increasing the number of college graduates in the U.S. and around the world,” said U.S. Education Secretary Education Arne Duncan. “We will be sharing ideas for using education to drive economic revitalization.”

The U.S. State Department has invited 19 nations to the event. During the symposium, participants will discuss economic trends impacting postsecondary education, as well as policies and practices that improve the alignment of education and workforce needs.

The forum is a joint effort of the Education Department’s Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE), the Middle East Partnership Initiative at the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development. 

Cummings joined the Education Department in April after serving as Maine's speaker of the House.  In his new role, he serves as deputy assistant secretary in OVAE, helping coordinate about $1.9 billion in programs related to adult education, career and technical education and community colleges.