About Me | drdeancummings

ABOUT ME - BIO

Every life is full of complicated nuances. My life could be summed up in "phases" of development.

Phase 1: As soon as I received my Master's degree I began my first professional job in 1989 at the NBC affiliate in Syracuse, New York.

It was a great experience. TV News became a passion. I was lucky to work with an amazing group of journalists at WSTM-TV. We were young and eager. I worked with Jim Axelrod, Matt Mulcahy, Elizabeth Frani, Betsy Sykes and Bick Barnett. I had some very good mentors in Frank Rossi, Jim Kenyon, and John Nicholson. They were tough and old school. Their demeanor rubbed off on me and I still retain their focused passion.

From there, I traveled to Michigan (WWMT-TV) to work at their Lakeshore Bureau. The 24/7 grind of working at a bureau was challenging but rewarding. I enjoy the adrenaline of journalism and being a part of the community. Lake Michigan is one of my favorite places on Earth.

The bureau closed in Holland, and so now I had to commute to Kalamazoo daily. It was a grind. So, I went to the competition, WZZM-TV (Grand Rapids), to work the assignment desk as the Assignment Manager.

Guiding news coverage for our station was a great experience. Managing people, especially news people, is not easy. My favorite GM, Janet Mason, inspired me and she gave me lessons on how to be a good boss. Cheryl Grant and Bill Dallman led our newsroom as a team. It was a great work environment.

The streets were calling. After a year of being cooped up in a newsroom, I became antsy to get outside, meet new people everyday and tell their stories, so I headed to Gannett's sister station in Cleveland, Ohio (WKYC-TV).

WKYC-TV was where I was at my best. I had great mentors, good friends and Cleveland became home for 16 years. I transitioned from daily news to long-form documentaries and programs.

Phase 2: Cancer patients can give you the perspective and inspiration you need to take a risk. Life is short so make every moment count. After working on 31+ medical documentaries, I decided to go back to school and earn a PhD.

It wasn't an easy decision. Recently, I went through my own cancer crisis of melanoma, plus my wife's fight against brain cancer lymphoma. In hindsight, the decision to leave my job seemed reckless. Especially, when I decided to get my PhD in Scotland...eventually, it was England. I started at the University of Stirling and finished at Sheffield University.

Dr. Jairo-Lugo Ocando took me under his wing at Stirling and when he moved to Sheffield University I went with him. Without him, I doubt I'd finish the PhD.

Phase 3: To fund my PhD, I created my own video production company, Cleveland Convergence. I was able to produce videos for the Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, PNC, Telling Industries, Fox Sports, Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Indians and many others.

I loved working with the Cleveland Browns and the Cleveland Indians. Being on the sidelines, covering a Browns game, was a thrill and something I will always cherish.

Phase 4: Finally, the road less traveled reveals a new life and the attainment of goals. I am teaching at Georgia Southern University and enjoying the fantastic academic environment. My new inspirations revolve around research and teaching.

After all of that, I hope to give students the inspiration to achieve their dreams.