Jay Cummings believes that learning math has become far too expensive, and is striving to write textbooks which are enjoyable to read, highlight the beauty in mathematics, and are significantly more affordable than the others on the market. After receiving his PhD from UC San Diego under Ron Graham, he joined the faculty at California State University, Sacramento. His combinatorics research continues and he particularly enjoys involving students in his work. He is passionate about his teaching and enjoys designing new courses.