Contact Info

Biography

Mr. Akinskas received his B.A. and M.A. in Music Education (Conducting specialization), and Principal’s certificate, from Glassboro State College. Mr. Akinskas began his teaching career in the Westville Public Schools (K-6) and taught secondary instrumental music at Overbrook Regional Jr. High School, Millville Senior High School, Haddonfield Memorial High School where he was also Supervisor of Fine and Performing Arts, and retired in 2010 as an Assistant Principal for Fine, Performing, and Applied Arts, and District Music Program Coordinator, from the Cherry Hill Schools. Mr. Akinskas is in his fortieth year as founding Director of the Cumberland County College (now Rowan College South Jersey) Jazz Band and Wind Symphony, and is also an Adjunct Professor of Music Education at Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ. His duties at Rowan include Student Teacher Supervision and Clinical Practice Seminar, as well as coordinating Music Alumni activities and the Summer Music Camps. Mr. Akinskas is a Past President of the N.J. Music Educators and N.J. Music Administrators Associations, a charter member of the Glassboro State College/Rowan University chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and was appointed to the Rowan University Alumni Board in August 2014.  In May 2020 Mr. Akinskas was awarded the Cumberland County College Senior Adjunct Service Commendation, and is certified as a Middle States Association Evaluation Team Chair with Arts Education specialization.

Awards and Commendations

• Fulbright Memorial Fund Scholar Tokyo-Hashimoto, Japan (2001)
• NJ Governor’s Award for Leadership in Arts Education (2008)
• Haddonfield Memorial High School Lifetime Teacher Achievement Award by the HMHS Alumni Society (2012)
• Ovation Award for Inspiration and Outstanding Leadership in Music Education from the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra finalist (2017)
• Cumberland County College Senior Adjunct Service Commendation (May 2020)
• Middle States Association Evaluation Team Chair with Arts Education specialization certification