In Memoriam

Thaddeus Dumas

Dr. Thaddeus Dumas, a long time friend of National Middle School Association, passed away on July 22, 2010. Dr. Dumas was assistant dean for diversity and a professor at the University of Louisville. He is survived by his wife Brenda, five children, and three grandchildren.

He was a lifelong educator who had a passion for the middle grades. Dr. Dumas started his career as a teacher at Ft. Wainwright Junior High School, Alaska, and held the assistant principal, principal, and superintendant roles in Alaska and California before becoming project director for the Carnegie Corporation of New York and later for the California Department of Education. Additionally, he served as a clinical professor of education at the University of Rhode Island where he managed grants to facilitate school improvement and transform urban middle schools.

As a volunteer leader for NMSA, Dr. Dumas was a member of our Urban Issues Committee (2000), the Board of Trustees Chair of Chairs (1995-1998), and a member of the Research Advisory Task Force (1995-1996).

National Middle School Association expresses our deepest condolences for the loss of Dr. Thaddeus Dumas. Many of our Board of Trustees members, staff, and affiliate leaders knew him as a friend and trusted colleague. He was genuine and gentle, driven and tenacious, but always a good friend with a big heart.