She received a Master of Fine Arts in Cinema Production from the University of Southern California, a Master of Education from Harvard University, and a Bachelor of Arts from UCLA. Prof. Coustaut is an award-winning independent filmmaker, and her areas of emphasis are screenwriting and directing. She also specializes in the history of the image of African Americans in film. Prof. Coustaut taught at the University of Maryland, College Park, and at Howard University for many years. She joined the University of Arkansas community in January 2005 to serve as its first Associate Vice Chancellor for Institutional Diversity and Education for a five-year appointment.