31-01-2025
Civil rights attorney from Wichita victim of plane crash in D.C.
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — A woman who made a name for herself in Wichita and was in the process of doing the same thing in Washington was on the plane that crashed in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.
Kiah Duggins was a civil rights attorney who worked with a legal group in D.C. called Civil Rights Corps. She was also a well-known and active member of the Wichita community.
She graduated from Wichita East High School, Wichita State University as a Clay Barton Scholar, and Harvard Law School.
Not only was she an attorney, but she was also set to be a professor at Howard University School of Law in the fall.
It is with profound sadness that the Howard University of Law and the broader Howard University community have learned of the passing of Professor Kiah Duggins, who was among those lost in the the mid-air plane collision at Reagan National Airport.
Professor Duggins was set to begin a new chapter as a professor at Howard University School of Law this fall.
As a civil rights lawyer, she dedicated her career to fighting against unconstitutional policing and unjust money bail practices in Tennessee, Texas and Washington, D.C.
We ask for privacy and respect for Professor Duggins' family, students, and colleagues during this difficult time. Plans to honor her legacy will be shared in coming days.
We encourage our community to seek any support they may need. Those resources can be found on the graphic…'
Howard University
Duggins has many impressive accomplishments. She was Miss Butler County 2015, Delta Mu's Miss Black and Gold 2013, and a top 10 finalist for Miss Kansas. At WSU, she was a member of the Student Government Association, co-founder of the WSU Shocker Food Locker, and co-founder of the Wichita State Inspire outreach initiative.
She served as a White House intern for the First Lady's Let Girls Learn initiative, founded the college readiness program The Princess Project, was president of the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau, and so much more.
Civil Rights Corps said Duggins enjoyed traveling internationally, dancing, and asking about people's daily magical moments.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
