Kiah Duggins: Civil Rights Attorney and Rising Star in Washington, D.C., Lost in Tragic Plane Crash

Kiah Duggins, a civil rights attorney and Harvard Law graduate, was set to become a professor at Howard University Law School. She was among the 67 victims of a mid-air collision over the Potomac River, remembered for her work challenging unconstitutional policing and her community ties in Wichita and Kansas.

Kiah Duggins was a rising star in the legal world, known for her dedication to civil rights. A Harvard Law graduate, she was poised to start as a professor at Howard University Law School this fall. Her career was marked by her relentless pursuit of justice, particularly in challenging unconstitutional policing practices in Tennessee, Texas, and Washington, D.C. She also worked with the ACLU of Northern California to address police misconduct.
Duggins’ impact extended beyond her professional achievements. She was a well-known figure in the Wichita community, where she cofounded the Shocker Food Locker to support students facing food insecurity. Her beauty pageant wins in 2014 and 2015 as Miss Butler County and Miss Augusta further highlighted her multifaceted personality.
The tragic plane crash that took her life involved a mid-air collision between an American Airlines flight and a Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport. The incident resulted in the loss of 67 lives, including several American and Russian figure skaters and labor union members. The Howard University community mourned the loss of Professor Duggins, who was remembered for her profound impact and promising future.

1. What was Kiah Duggins’ background?
Answer: Kiah Duggins was a Harvard Law graduate and civil rights attorney who was set to become a professor at Howard University Law School.

2. What were her notable achievements?
Answer: She challenged unconstitutional policing practices in Tennessee, Texas, and Washington, D.C., and worked with the ACLU of Northern California to address police misconduct.

3. What community initiatives was she involved in?
Answer: She cofounded the Shocker Food Locker to support students facing food insecurity at Wichita State University.

4. What were her personal accomplishments?
Answer: She won the Miss Butler County and Miss Augusta beauty pageants in 2014 and 2015, respectively.

5. How is she remembered by the community?
Answer: She is remembered for her dedication to justice and her positive influence on her peers and community.

Kiah Duggins was a remarkable individual whose life was cut short in a tragic plane crash. Her dedication to civil rights and her community initiatives left a lasting impact. She will be remembered for her courage and her promise as a future professor at Howard University Law School.