Isabel Mercedes Cumming

Isabel Mercedes Cumming

Inspector General
Baltimore Inspector General

Over the past 40 years, Isabel Mercedes Cumming has worked, among other jobs, as director of internal audits and compliance officer for a bank, assistant state prosecutor in Maryland, chief of special prosecutions/economic crimes for Prince George’s County and as the inspector general for Baltimore City, where she is the independent watchdog for city residents.

Cumming holds an MBA in accounting from the University of Baltimore and a law degree from the University of Baltimore School of Law.

She explains there have been many challenges in the past four years while serving as the inspector general, “but achieving an independent office has been the greatest accomplishment. The OIG has withstood political attacks and stood firm with our reports.

“The challenge of changing a poorly written law that put elected officials and city employees on the advisory board was faced head-on. Baltimore City was the only city IG in the United States who had a board with that structure. I fought for an independent board prior to the first meeting. The hard-fought changes to the law passed the Baltimore City Council unanimously,” Cumming said.

Outside her professional pursuits, one may be surprised to find out the skateboarding community is a big part of her heart. “My youngest son was a skate phenom at age six and is a professional skater now. I met so many talented and kind skaters through him. I also learned quickly that skating was an escape for many youths from the difficulties of their lives. Yet, there are very limited skateparks,” she explained.

“I have seen first-hand that skateboarding saves lives. Everyone falls, but it is how you move forward from the falls that defines you. In skateboarding, it is learned quickly that you can only be successful when you get back up. That life lesson is a golden rule to me and why I will always be an advocate for the skateboarding community.”