She has served extensively in the Middle East, North Africa, and East Africa. Daughter of an FSO, she was raised in Lebanon, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. In the private sector and for the State Department, she has worked in Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Jerusalem, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Cyprus, and Ethiopia, as well as nine years working regionally from Morocco through Pakistan. Ms. Cummings has served as Pol/Econ Section Chief, Political Advisor to Military Commanders, Refugee Coordinator, Economic Section Chief, Consular Officer, and Political Officer in various posts. She speaks Arabic and French, and is familiar with Spanish, Hebrew, Farsi, and Kurdish.

Ms. Cummings was born in Lincoln, Nebraska. She attended schools overseas and was graduated summa cum laude in History from the American University in Beirut. She received her MA in Geography from the University of Texas at Austin, and has studied economics and finance at the graduate level.  She will take up her new position as Deputy Chief of Mission to the Federated States of Micronesia in summer 2016.