Julia Cummings, PhD, MBA, is a scholar-practitioner whose work sits at the intersection of public policy communication, narrative strategy, and democratic participation. She brings more than two decades of senior communications leadership in higher education, national nonprofits, and cultural institutions, and her research examines how narrative economics, contextual imagery, and representative voices influence political engagement.

Cummings earned her PhD in Public Affairs from the University of Colorado Denver, where her dissertation, Public Policy Communications: Promoting Voter Engagement through Narrative Economics, Contextual Issues/Images, and Diverse Narrators, advanced understanding of how narrative elements may shape civic behavior. Her peer‑reviewed work includes research on closing age and race gaps in voter participation, and she presents regularly at national and international conferences on narrative, political communication, and public interest communications.

She teaches PUAD 4003: Strategic Communications for Public Engagement, guiding students to connect theory, research, and practice in service of public-sector and nonprofit missions. She emphasizes the ethical dimensions of communication and the importance of inclusive and contextual storytelling in strengthening public trust.

Across her career, Cummings has served as a strategic advisor to presidents, deans, and boards, leading marketing and communication strategies that elevated institutional reputation, increased enrollment, expanded community partnerships, and supported mission-driven public engagement. Her work integrates scholarly rigor with applied experience, helping organizations translate complex issues into accessible narratives that support participation and civic good.