Brianna Cummings: Student Athlete Bridges the Gap Between Law and Public Health Through Advocacy

When third-year Saint Louis University School of Law student Brianna Cummings published her article, “As Pride Month Ends, We Must Keep Pushing for Safe and Affirming Environments for LGBTQ+ Youth,” with the National Center for Youth Law (NCYL), she hoped it would spark both reflection and action.

“It felt really good to be able to write something that combined my legal education with something I’m passionate about,” the SLU student said. “It was nice to be able to share it more broadly and be part of that conversation.”

The article highlights the challenges LGBTQ+ youth continue to face, including depression and suicidal thoughts even in supportive home environments. Drawing from both data and lived realities, Cummings made the case that affirming spaces must extend beyond the household. “It’s not just about family,” she explained. “It’s about the broader social and political climate. Youth are still exposed to things that are damaging, even when they have supportive families.

Cummings is pursuing a dual J.D. and Master’s Degree in Public Health at SLU, a path that reflects her commitment to public interest law and systems-level change.

“I think law and public health are deeply connected,” she said. “Law can shape health outcomes in so many ways, whether it’s access to healthcare, protections in schools, or the ability to live authentically.” Her time at NCYL underscored the importance of that intersection. She noted that advocacy for LGBTQ+ youth is not only about individual support but also about addressing the structural inequities that create barriers to belonging.

“It’s not enough to just say, ‘You have a safe home,’” she said. “If laws and policies are hostile, it affects how young people see themselves and their futures.”

In addition to her coursework, Cummings serves as vice president of the Student Bar Association, a position that requires her to juggle planning, meetings, and representing her classmates on top of an already demanding academic schedule.

“It’s been a great experience,” she said. “I’ve been able to connect with students across different classes and work on projects that matter to the student body.” At the same time, she is splitting her time between law and public health courses. The workload, she admits, can be heavy, but she sees it as essential to preparing for the kind of career she envisions.

On top of her dual degree and leadership role, Cummings continues to train and compete in track and field. She ran in college and continues to run competitively. Cummings used her last year of eligibility during her first year of law school, balancing the rigorous work of her 1L year with the demanding schedule of a collegiate athlete. Athletics, she explained, is not something she has put aside while in law school but rather, it is a discipline that complements it. What seems impossibly demanding for most is a source of balance and identity for Cummings.

“Track is something that’s really important to me,” she said. “It keeps me grounded. It helps me manage stress and brings balance to my life.” However, even with her collegiate eligibility gone, running is not just a pastime for Cummings. She continues to fuel her passion by training with a coach and has the goal of running in the 2027 Olympic marathon trials, hoping to compete in the 2028 Olympics. 

Balancing three demanding identities — student leader, dual-degree candidate, and athlete — has not been easy, but Cummings views the combination as central to her growth. Each role, she explained, informs the others: track teaches discipline, leadership fosters community, and her academic work ties it all together in service of advocacy. While this juggling act seems impossible, Cummings continues to not just manage her life but excel in everything she does.

As graduation approaches, Cummings is beginning to envision her career. In the short term, she hopes to pursue litigation.

“I want to be in the courtroom and get that experience,” she said. But her long-term goals are policy-driven, particularly in health law. “Eventually, I’d like to work on Medicaid reform,” she said. “There are so many inequities that play out in Medicaid — access to care, mental health services, protections for vulnerable populations. That’s where I see myself making the biggest impact.”

She also sees writing as an ongoing part of her advocacy. “I’d like to keep doing it,” she said. “Writing is a way to connect law and policy with real people’s experiences.”

Through her studies, leadership, athletics, and advocacy, Brianna Cummings is shaping a career that blends law and public health with a deep commitment to equity. Her Pride Month article was one example of how she hopes to use her training to make a difference, but she sees it as just the beginning. “Every young person deserves to feel safe and affirmed,” she said. “That’s not just a personal issue; it’s a legal issue, a health issue, and a societal issue. That’s the work I want to be part of.”

This article was originally published in the SLU LAW Brief alumni magazine issue 2025.