Brite staff happy with interim president
Duane Cummins brings 14 years of experience as president of Bethany College and national involvement in the Christian church.
By Bill Morrison
Staff Reporter

Duane Cummins, the retired president of Bethany College in W.Va., has been chosen by the Brite Divinity School board of trustees as interim president for the school.

Cummins will start Monday and hold the position until a permanent replacement can be found, said David Gouwens, interim dean of Brite. Gouwens said it is the intention of the Board for Cummins to serve until the end of the academic year while they search for a permanent replacement.

A native of Nebraska, Cummins received his Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma. He has been a professor of American history and a college administrator, according to the Office of Communication. Cummins served as the president of Bethany College from 1988 until his retirement earlier this year and is heavily involved in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Tori Craven, professor of the Hebrew Bible, was involved with interviewing Cummins and said she was very impressed with his enthusiasm and energy for Brite. She said the reasons Cummins was chosen were his commitment to the Christian Church and his success with fund raising.Cummins served a two-year term as moderator of the Christian Church in the United States and Canada from 1993-1995. He has headed numerous committees, boards and task forces of the denomination, including president of the division of Higher Education of the Christian Church from 1978-1998.

The search for a new president began when Leo Perdue resigned to go back to full-time teaching. Cummins will be replacing acting president Ann Sewell, the school’s vice president of finance and treasurer, who took over after Perdue stepped down.