Kamilah Cummings
Editor. Writer. Educator.
I am an editor, writer, and educator who endeavors to facilitate learning in a manner that encourages us to examine life in a way that inspires, expands, deepens, challenges, and enriches. I have successfully helped thousands of students and an array of clients transform their thoughts to written words (and sometimes actions). I believe in the infinite power of writing to enlighten and empower. As such, whether in the classroom or on the page, my dedication, diverse interests, and humanity guide my work to utilize this medium to strengthen the nexus between what we know and what we understand as well as what we think and why we think it. Ultimately, I believe this understanding will enable us to be better caretakers of ourselves and each other.
Areas of Expertise
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Facilitation - F2F & Online
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Higher Education
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Traditional and Nontraditional Learners
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Adult Learners
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Independent Learners
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Workshops
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Writing / Editing
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Academic & Public
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Editing - Content & Copy
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Proofreading
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Research
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Curriculum & Course Design
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Subjects
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Writing
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Critical Thinking
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Prince Studies
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House Music
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Journal Writing
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Rhetoric, Composition, Argumentation
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Media Criticism
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Reflective Learning
- Race and Identity in Popular Culture
- Supporting Nontraditional Learners
- Prior Learning Assessment
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About Me
For as far back as my mind will permit me to recall, I have been in love with words. Whether from the intricate weave of wisdom my mother routinely spoke to me or from the imaginative lyrics Prince sang to me through my speakers, words have always been my first love. To this day, seeing them in printed form - commingling with each other across some concrete medium that ensures their afterlife - still excites me.
As a writer and editor, I began my career as an entertainment critic, writing features for numerous online and print publications. After obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management from Columbia College Chicago, I co-founded and served as editor of the popular online magazine Mochadreams.com from 1998-2005. The magazine, which celebrated the diverse beauty and culture of people of color, attracted a dedicated base of domestic and international subscribers.
A committed lifelong learner, I obtained a Master of Science degree in Journalism from Roosevelt University and transitioned to a career in higher education after the magazine ceased publication. I am a student-centered educator who has successfully taught writing, critical thinking, and communications courses for more than 15 years. I have taught as a resident faculty member and visiting senior professional lecturer at DePaul University in Chicago since 2012, where, in addition to creating original writing courses, I have designed and taught undergraduate and graduate courses on House music and Prince.
My academic publications and presentations reflect my passions and research interests in writing, nontraditional students, House music, and Prince studies. I have always been intrigued by the intersections of race, gender, and society, particularly with regard to how they converge in popular culture to influence identity creation as well as the ways we perceive and perform identity.
I continue to work as a freelance editor, subject matter expert, peer reviewer, consultant, and writing coach for a range of individual and corporate clients. My upcoming venture, The Scribe Vibe, bridges my research and training on the power of journaling with my interests in writing, race, identity, and popular culture. Stay tuned . . .
