Cummings Graduate Institute Awards Honorary Degrees

PHOENIX - March 9, 2020 - PRLog -- On January 25, 2020, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies (CGI) bestowed honorary degrees to three innovators who were pivotal in the establishment, growth, and success of CGI.

The Honorary Doctor of Behavioral Health degree recipients included:

• Dr. Nicholas A. Cummings, Ph.D., Sc.D.
• Dr. Dorothy Cummings, MSW, D.H.L.
• Dr. Janet L. Cummings, Psy.D.

Dr. Cara English, CEO and Director of the DBH program, presented the recipients with the first honorary degrees in the history of the institution at the 2020 DBH Commencement Ceremony. The event was held in Reno, NV, the place where in 2014, the concept and first plans for Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health was formed. At the launch of the ceremony Dr. English stated, "The idea behind this institution was a simple one. That with hard work and a strong vision for what healthcare can be, a small group of thoughtful, concerned people can make a difference. Indeed, as Margaret Mead has said, it's the only thing that ever has." Through their vision and dedication to innovation, Drs. Cummings founded an institution dedicated to changing the way the world experiences healthcare.

The Honorees
Dr. Nicholas A. Cummings, Ph.D., Sc.D. received his bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of California at Berkeley, his master's degree in psychology from Claremont Graduate School, and his doctorate in clinical psychology from Adelphi University. He has been awarded six honorary doctorates, most recently an honorary DBH from CGI, for his innovations in diverse fields including psychology, education, and the Greek classics.

Foreseeing the industrialization of healthcare, Dr. Cummings founded American Biodyne, the nation's first and only psychology-driven managed behavioral health organization (MBHO). Dr. Cummings has written over 450 book chapters and journal articles, along with 51 books, 10 with daughter Janet.

Dr. Dorothy Cummings, MSW, D.H.L. attended the University of California, Berkeley, where she completed an undergraduate degree and a Master's Degree in Social Work. After meeting Nick Cummings, Dorothy held various positions, including one at Mendocino State Hospital in California, while working to help Nick complete his M.A. and Ph.D. in Psychology. The two have been married for over 70 years.

Dr. Janet Cummings, Psy. D., is the daughter of Drs. Nicholas and Dorothy Cummings. She has earned bachelors and masters degrees in Pre-medicine and linguistics, minoring in Genetics and Molecular Biology, and a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology. During her doctoral program, she completed Pharmacology and Psychopharmacology courses in Wright State University's medical school and excelled in Pharmacology, Biological Psychology, and Neuroanatomy/Neurology.

To learn more about Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies and to read more about the honorees visit https://cgi.edu.