Professional Experience
Lei Cummings has worked for nearly 40 years across various church entities, including BYU-Hawaii, the Polynesian Cultural Center, and Philanthropies, serving in roles such as director, adjunct faculty member, programmer, and associate director of major gifts.
IT Leadership
With over 20 years in IT, Lei led the IT services team at BYU-Hawaii for several years, managing 50 staff members responsible for the campus network, computer support, call center, and IP telephony. In 2004, she was recognized as one of Hawaii's Top Technology Leaders.
Philanthropy and Development
After earning her MBA from Hawaii Pacific University, Lei joined Philanthropies, where she helped to raise millions of dollars for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, with a focus on BYU-Hawaii and the Polynesian Cultural Center. Her efforts established enduring relationships that continue to benefit the university.
Lei briefly worked with Catholic Charities in Honolulu as their director of development before returning to BYU-Hawaii as a relationship manager in the new Hoʻokele department. In this role, she supported admissions, career services, student recruitment, and alumni relations, engaging in activities such as presenting at student recruitment and alumni events, reviewing student applications, hosting alumni podcasts, and enhancing the alumni's social media presence.
Adjunct Faculty
As an adjunct faculty member, Lei teaches students professional skills, including resume writing, interviewing, networking, and dining etiquette—skills she learned under the guidance of Barbara Jones and her faculty for a decade.
Alumni Relations
Currently, Lei oversees the alumni relations office, reporting to the Vice President of Advancement. She has expanded the number of alumni chapters to 30 and established a new executive board to support global efforts. She also hosts donors and special guests on campus.
Church Service
In her church service, Lei has held various leadership positions, including stake young women's counselor, ward young women’s counselor and advisor, stake relief society secretary, ward relief society teacher, stake primary counselor, ward primary president, and seminary teacher. Currently, she is a primary teacher and the social media specialist for Hawaii.
Personal Life
Lei is the mother of five children and grandmother of four. Her legacy at BYU-Hawaii spans generations, beginning with her grandmother, Lily Lindsey, who was the secretary to the president of the Church College of Hawaii in 1955. Her parents, Frank and Gladys Kalama, were early students, and she, along with her siblings and four of her five children, followed in their footsteps. Lei met her husband, the late John from the Cook Islands, while dancing at the Polynesian Cultural Center. They were married for 20 years.