She holds degrees from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and Columbia University Law School and is a member of the New York State Bar. Prior joining the faculty at Howard University, Cummings spent more than 20 years in the news industry. She began her career at the Miami Herald where she was a features reporter and writer before moving into broadcasting. Cummings worked as a writer/producer for former ABC News affiliate, WPLG-TV in Miami, and spent nine years producing for the CBS Network on news magazine shows including Sunday Morning, 48 Hours, West 57th and Face to Face with Connie Chung. She is currently working on an independent documentary film on African American Women and HIV/AIDS.