Tuwana Hudson Cummings’ dream of becoming a lawyer has come true. The University of Houston-Downtown alumna is a civilian environmental attorney with the U.S. Navy in Washington, D.C.
She reached her goal after considerable struggle and hard work, but the hard work paid off for the 31-year-old mother.
Hudson graduated from UHD in 2003 while raising her daughter, Londyn, and working full time at a downtown bank.
Somewhere along the way, Cummings’ dream as a young girl, had taken a back seat. She had a job, but not a career and she knew she needed more education.
“I realized that I needed a college education and a graduate degree to get beyond where I was,” says Cummings.
As an undergraduate, Cummings majored in political science and volunteered with local political campaigns to fulfill the UHD field experience requirement. After graduating from UHD, Cummings worked full time for former U.S. Rep. Chris Bell and enrolled in the South Texas College of Law. She interned with the Navy during her final year of law school, “a two-month interview,” she calls it, and accepted an advance offer upon her graduation. She earned her law degree in December (2008) and passed the bar exam in February.
As an environmental attorney, Cummings represents the Navy when ships are decommissioned, or retired. Her office manages legal aspects of the process, making sure those involved follow all laws and regulations.
“I’m really enjoying the work,” says Cummings. ““I was the first in my family to graduate from college and law school. I want to thank Dr. (Adolfo) Santos and everyone at UHD who encouraged me. Now I am doing what I always wanted to do.”
“She was a good student,” says Santos, chair of UHD’s Social Sciences Department and Cummings’ former political science professor. “Tuwana embraced what we convey to every UHD student – if you have drive and ambition, UHD can help you achieve your academic goals.”
