Dr. J. Reid Cummings

Interim Assistant Dean for Financial Affairs, Professor of Finance and Real Estate

Executive Director, SABRE (South Alabama Center for Business Analytics, Real Estate and Economic Development

Education

Doctor of Business Administration (Finance), Honors, Kennesaw State University
Master of Business Administration (Management), Honors, University of Mobile
Graduate Certificate (Economic Development), Honors, University of Southern Mississippi
Bachelor of Arts (Political Science), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Professional Designations

Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM)
Accredited Land Consultant (ALC)
Certified Shopping Center Manager (CSM)
Residential Mortgage Lender (RML)
Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS)
Short Sale & Foreclosure Resource (SFR)
Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager (CRB)
Certified Distance Education Instructor (CDEI)

Professional Licenses

Alabama Real Estate Broker
Louisiana Real Estate Broker

Bio

Dr. Cummings is a Professor of Finance and Real Estate, the Executive Director of the South Alabama Center for Business Analytics, Real Estate, and Economic Development, and the Interim Assistant Dean for Financial Affairs at the Mitchell College of Business at the University of South Alabama. He earned a Doctorate in Finance, with Honors, from Kennesaw State University, a Master of Business Administration in Management, with Honors, from the University of Mobile, a Graduate Certificate in Economic Development, with Honors, from the University of Southern Mississippi, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Dr. Cummings has published and presented research on finance, real estate, economics, banking, economic development, tourism, and intermodal transportation and is a frequent commentator for multiple television, newspaper, magazine, and internet media outlets. He was the Mitchell College of Business Professor of the Year in 2016 and teaches International Business at Queen Mary University of London during the summer. He has completed economic impact assessments, intermodal transportation studies, and customized heat map, feasibility, site, and market analyses for business, nonprofit, and government clients. He has over 34 years of industry experience in real estate counseling, advisory, development, leasing, management, brokerage, lending, and construction. His professional designations include CCIM, ALC, CRB, CSM, SFR, CIPS, RML, and CDEI.

Dr. Cummings is a graduate of Leadership Alabama, Leadership Mobile, and The Buckley School for Public Speaking. He has more than 25 years of governmental, academic, and industry leadership service, including Alabama Real Estate Commissioner from 2011-2022; Mobile Housing Authority Commissioner from 2016-2018; Mobile Board of Zoning Adjustment Commissioner from 1999-2011 and Chairman from 2003-2011; American Real Estate Society Board of Directors Member from 2016-2021 and current Secretary; Co-Editor of the Journal of Real Estate Practice and Education since 2018; Advisory Board Member of The First Bank (NASDAQ: FBMS) since 2016; and Mobile Area Association of Realtors Board of Directors Member from 1995-2001, 2005-2006, 2008-2009, 2013-2014 and President in 2000.