Department of English Language & Literature

Education

• MA, Eastern Michigan University

Interests and Expertise

"It is important to be focused," Eastern Michigan University professor of public relations, Lolita Cummings, says when asked what aspect of her personality has most helped her succeed. "I know what I am doing five minutes from now, five days from now, five years from now. I always have a plan."

Cummings' focus has served her well. After coming to EMU in 1994 as an assistant professor of public relations, Cummings poured her vast energy into the role, leading her to tenure and the title of associate professor in 1998. She was promoted to full professor in 2003.

Since first arriving at EMU, Cummings has distinguished herself while speaking at academic and professional conferences, publishing in academic and professional journals and teaching for two different EMU colleges (Arts and Sciences and Business). And, yet, through it all, she has kept her sights on what's most important to her -- EMU's students.

As successful as Cummings has been at EMU, her original plan did not always include teaching. After graduating from Western Michigan University in 1986 with a bachelor's degree in communications, Cummings, raised by a family of educators, was determined to do anything but teach. So immediately after graduation, she pursued her chosen field of public relations, first at the School Employees Credit Union in Battle Creek, Michigan, and then in 1987 at Flint's Sloan Museum.

Always in need of a challenge, Cummings soon began seeking other endeavors after helping to triple the museum's attendance figures, and in 1990 landed a position as director of marketing and public relations at the YWCA of Greater Flint. While there, she enrolled in EMU's graduate program and earned a master's degree in communications in 1992. In February of 1994, she decided to try corporate public relations and began work for Ameritech (now AT&T) as manager of employee communications. Little did she know that in just six short months she would be finally trying her hand at the family business -- teaching. Although Cummings had previous part-time experiences as a community college and university instructor, it did not take her long to realize that she wanted her stay at EMU to be a permanent one. "Once I arrived on campus in the role of educator, I felt like I should have been here all along," Cummings says.

Today, as if she were not busy enough with her responsibilities as a professor,  Cummings also serves as the program’s coordinator and internship supervisor.

In 2023, Cummings spearheaded “Enlighten U,” a monthly podcast for students. Each episode focuses on a different aspect of mental health and includes an EMU student or graduate -- and a mental health professional. Episodes can be found on EMU’s YouTube page.

Outside of the university, Cummings remains active in her field as a consultant to nonprofit organizations for which she provides services in the
areas of grant writing, editing, strategy, crisis communications, marketing and promotions. She is the mother of two adult children and two grandchildren.

Cummings' professional memberships include the Public Relations Society of America, an organization from which she earned Universal Accreditation in 1999.

Courses

• PURL 201 Public Relations and Public Responsibility
• PURL 221 Social Media
• PURL 312 Introduction to Public Relations
• PURL 314 Writing for Public Relations
• PURL 408 Case Studies in Public Relations
• IMC 609 Public Relations
• ENGL 323 Writing in the Professional World

Publications and Presentations

• "Give Students a Chance: Volunteer Experiences Often Win-Win Situations."
• "Writing the Book on a Successful Library Millage — A Case Study Approach"
• "Crisis Planning for Nonprofit Organizations"
• "Using Cooperative Learning to Make Writing Masters of Public Relations Students"
• "How to Build Basic Writing Skills Within the Public Relations Course"
• "Making Masters of News Writers: Incorporating Cooperative Learning into the Journalism Classroom"