By Ashleigh Fields
Special to the AFRO
The Howard University community is mourning the death of Kiah Duggins, who was beginning her tenure as Howard University School of Law professor this fall, after she was killed during the Jan. 29 deadly mid-air collision between an American Airlines passenger plane and an Army Black Hawk helicopter.
“It is with profound sadness that the Howard University community and the Howard University School of Law have learned of the passing of Professor Kiah Duggins, who was among those lost in the mid-air plane collision at Reagan National Airport,” Howard President Ben Vinson, said in a statement.
“We ask for privacy and respect for Professor Duggins’ family, students, and colleagues during this difficult time.”
Images of Duggins circulated on social media shortly after as family, friends, professors and colleagues began to reflect on the impact of her life.
“Seconds after making a post sitting on the edge of my seat, I never thought to think my dear friend, Kiah’s life would be impacted by #flight5342. In the midst of tears, pain and frustration there’s a lot Kiah’s life has taught us,” her close friend Joseph Shepard wrote in a post.
“Kiah Would Want You to Know: Kiah’s fight for civil rights and justice wasn’t just a career—it was her life’s mission. The light of her work lives on through each of us. Black girls can be princesses too. That belief fueled her Princess Project, empowering disenfranchised girls through college readiness and confidence-building,” he said of the former Miss Kansas contestant.
“Kiah was more than my first pageant queen—she was my first real friend. She held my secrets, stood up for me, and never turned a blind eye to my pain,” he added. “Her first title in the Miss Kansas Organization was Miss Black and Gold—representing a historic Black fraternity. That mattered.”
Duggins left a lasting impact on the people she met through her pursuit of higher education. She graduated from the Wichita State University W. Frank Barton School of Business and graduated from Harvard Law School with her eye set on becoming a civil rights attorney. Shortly after earning her law degree, she took on employment as a lawyer with the Civil Rights Corps.
“We are deeply heartbroken to share with our community and friends that Kiah Duggins was aboard American Airlines Flight 5342 from Wichita, Kansas, to Washington, D.C.,” Larisa Genin, dean of the Barton School of Business said in a statement to the community.
She outlined Duggins’ career as one who litigated cases pertaining to unconstitutional policing and money bail practices. She added that her former student studied prison industrial complex abolition and movement lawyering as a Law 4 Black Lives Fellow and integrated those concepts into her daily work.
“Her family remains active in the Wichita community, and this tragedy has profoundly impacted all who knew her. Today, we mourn the loss of one of our own. To those who had the privilege of knowing Kiah, our hearts are with you during this incredibly difficult time,” Genin said.
“Kiah was a beacon of light, a testament to perseverance, and an inspiration to all who dream big and work tirelessly to achieve their goals. We hope her legacy continues to inspire our students, serving as a reminder of what is possible through determination, passion, and purpose.”