Dean Cummings Profile

By: Sam Hagan

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Dr. Dean Cummings pictures his life in 4 phases of development; these phases have shaped his life and led him to where he is now. Cummings graduated with a bachelor's degree in Motion Picture Science from Rochester Institute of Technology in 1987. “I thought I was going to go into film making, but then realized Hollywood was not the lifestyle I pictured for myself,” said Cummings. He decided to pursue grad school and received a master’s in professional studies and studied many classes in Radio, Television, and Film from Syracuse University in 1989. “After my master’s, I went into TV news, which changed my life,” said Cummings, who credits his love for working on TV news to those he worked with. “I can name everyone in the building from my first 2 years because they meant so much to me and gave me the bug of journalism,” said Cummings. 

After 2 years, he went to Michigan and started working in the Bureau of the Grand Rapids Market in Holland,  Michigan. He worked alongside one other reporter and was on call 24/7. He looks back on these years as a grind, “getting woken up at 3 o’clock in the morning to cover a fire or a murder takes a toll on you,” said Cummings. He said he enjoyed the adrenaline of journalism and loved being a part of the community. After 9 years of reporting, he decided to step away and join the competition, WZZM-TV Grand Rapids. He worked at the assignment desk as the Assignment manager and guided news coverage for the station. “This was an eye-opening experience, and managing people is never easy,” said Cummings. After working inside a newsroom for a year,  Cummings heard the streets calling his name. “I wanted to get into a good company, and at that time, Gannett was the best,” said Cummings. He went to Gannett’s sister station, WKYC-TV, in Cleveland, Ohio. Cummings transitioned from daily news to long-form documentaries and programs. This move is seen as the end of phase 1, and Cummings believed this was where he was at his very best. “I was in my prime and really was able to grind,” said Cummings. 

Phase 2 starts with Cummings going back to school to earn a PhD. “I went to Scotland because it was cheaper; going back to Syracuse was going to be like 40 grand,” said Cummings. He started his degree in Scotland at the University of Stirling and finished at Sheffield University. Cummings received a PhD in journalism and Newsroom Culture from Sheffield University in 2013.  

Phase 3 is all about sports and creating his own company. Cummings created Cleveland Convergence, producing videos for the Cleveland Clinic, Fox Sports, the Cleveland Browns, the Cleveland Indians, and many others. “If I could go back now, I would do it differently. “ I was in panic mode, and now I teach my students to look out for things like clients and to not put all of your eggs in one basket,” said Cummings. 

His former and current students can attest to the professionalism and respect he has for his craft. “He really wants to see you excel and wants to help you become the best version of yourself; even though he is tough in class, it really is out of love and with the best interest in mind,” said Daniel Stackhouse, a current student at Georgia Southern. Cummings has received numerous Emmy awards and multiple Associated Press awards and takes pride in knowing that his work was respected and well-received. “I am very proud of the awards from the Associated Press; it’s very competitive to be the best photojournalist in our region, and I won it twice,” said Cummings. He appreciates the awards and recognition but wants his students to realize there is more to journalism and life than awards. “After it's all said and done, what's important is the work you did and how it helped people,” said Cummings. Cummings said that he loves being able to teach students about life and give them experience they can use in the real world. “I really want students to find their own voice and help them to become the best versions of themselves,” said Cummings. He says he loves watching students figure out something they are struggling with. “I love to see the bulbs come on; getting to see the students figure it out and realize what it takes to get the job done is very cool,” said Cummings. 

The 4th and current phase of his life is where he is now. Cummings is an Associate Professor at Georgia Southern, teaching courses such as Media Management and Sales and Studio Application. “I’m hoping to make full professor by next year, then get to 15 years teaching.“Currently, I am at 10,” said Cummings. 

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