About

Educator, Scholar, Professor, Motivational Speaker, and Political Scientist

Dr. Edward Summers is one of the youngest executives in higher education and workforce development space and a prominent voice on issues impacting higher education and urban issues. He has written and publicly lectured on topics such as access to higher education, cost, affordability, management of higher education, developing sound community and government relations programs, and institutional effectiveness and management. He is also active in his academic discipline of public policy and conducts research on politics, community and economic development, urban politics, housing policy, political processes, and democracy. Dr. Summers received a BA in Political Science and a Masters of Public Administration from Marist College. He holds a M.Phil. and Ph.D. in Public and Urban Policy from The New School.

Dr. Summers is the Executive Director of The Bronx Private Industry Council (PIC) and was a professor of Public Administration and the VP, Chief Strategy and Planning Officer at Long Island University, where he was principally responsible for University-wide strategy and implementation, special institutional initiatives, internationalization and the University’s Global College.  Previously, he served as the inaugural Executive Director of the Brooklyn Education Innovation Network (BE.IN). BE.IN is an alliance among ten colleges, universities, and a law school that works on collaborative student, faculty, alumni, and administrative programs. The organization has a major focus on connecting member institutions with local industry to secure internships, jobs, and academic partnerships.

Prior to BE.IN, Dr. Summers served as the Chief of Staff and Director of the Kelly Adirondack Research Center at Union College. He was responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the institution and providing strategic direction for implementing the College’s strategic plan. He is the founding Director of the Kelly Adirondack Research Center, which is an interdisciplinary research center focused on the study of the Adirondack Park. During his tenure, the College has taken over the editorship of the Adirondack Journal of Environmental Studies in collaboration with the Adirondack Research Consortium and launched seven programs that engaged students, faculty, and the public.  Prior to his role at Union College, Dr. Summers served as Assistant to the President of Marist College, where he provided executive-level support to Dr. Dennis Murray. He served as an Adjunct Professor of Public Administration and Policy and Political Science and as Program Director for the Presidential Referrals Program and Program Director for Marist Programs in Africa. He taught courses on Nonprofit Management, American National Government, Public Policy, South African Politics, Ghanaian Politics and Community Development, and Program, Planning, and Evaluation. Eddie was the inaugural program director for the Presidential Referral program, which brought inner-city students from Los Angeles and New York to Marist College. The program provided financial, academic, and social support for the students. The goal of the program was to eliminate any barriers to students’ success and to ensure that students graduated. Dr. Summers also developed service-learning programs to South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, and Ghana as Program Director for Marist Africa programs.

Active nationally in the conversation surrounding higher education issues, Dr. Summers served on the Board of the National Association of Presidential Assistants in Higher Education (NAPAHE) and on the National Task force for College for Every Student (CFES). He has also been active in the Hudson River Valley and the Capital Regions, serving on a number of boards including the Dutchess County Industrial Development Agency (IDA); the Schenectady County Chamber of Commerce; Protect the Dream Youth Programs; Dutchess Outreach; Quest; Living Resources Foundation Board; Catherine Street Community Center; and the Eleanor Roosevelt Center at Val Kill.

Dr. Summers grew up in the South Bronx. At age 9, he became a community activist by getting involved with the Diego Beekman Housing Tenant Association. He also was involved with the East Side House Settlement, which sought to provide economic and community engagement and empowerment to residents of the South Bronx. Throughout High School and College, Dr. Summers worked for numerous law firms providing legal assistance to attorneys on a variety of matters. In recent years, he has committed himself to public service by mentoring young children in New York City,  Poughkeepsie, and Schenectady through participation and funding organizations that seek to empower impoverished communities. He is guided by the desire to see a more diverse, just, and inclusive society.