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Kiah Duggins: A Light for Justice Gone Too Soon

A BFD MOMENT: In Memory of Kiah Duggins



Photo Courtesy of Civil Rights Corp
Photo Courtesy of Civil Rights Corp

The world lost a remarkable advocate with the passing of Kiah Duggins, a 30-year-old civil rights attorney and Harvard Law School graduate, who was among the victims of a tragic plane crash near Washington, D.C., on January 29, 2025.


Born and raised in Wichita, Kansas, Kiah was the daughter of Dr. Maurice and Gwen Duggins, who instilled in her a deep commitment to social justice through their own dedication to serving underserved communities in education and healthcare. She attended Wichita East High School and later earned bachelor's degrees in International Business, Economics, and Spanish from Wichita State University in 2017. A recipient of the prestigious Clay Barton Scholarship in 2013, she joined a distinguished group of exceptionally talented students at the Barton School of Business.


During her time at Wichita State, Kiah co-founded the Shocker Food Locker, an initiative supporting students facing food insecurity, a legacy that continues today. Dean Larisa Genin of The Barton School of Business shared the heartbreaking news: "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."


At Harvard Law School, Kiah served as president of the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau, leading efforts to protect families from unlawful evictions during the pandemic. Interim Dean John Goldberg noted her "boundless enthusiasm for advancing justice for the most vulnerable, and for building community." After graduating in 2021, Kiah worked with the ACLU of Northern California and the firm Neufeld, Scheck & Brustin. Most recently, she was an attorney at the Civil Rights Corps, where she challenged systemic injustices and fought against unconstitutional policing and money bail practices. She was also set to join Howard University as a professor in the fall.


Kiah’s friend Kiana Knolland shared a moving tribute: "There are only two people I’ve ever called the smartest I know. One is my mentor, Molly—a brilliant federal prosecutor. The other was my dear sister-friend, Kiah Duggins. Kiah was a Harvard-trained civil rights attorney, a freedom fighter, an abolitionist, a global traveler, and a radiant force of light and joy. Speaking of her in the past tense feels unbearable. When she graduated from Harvard, I gifted her a framed quote: ‘The light in me honors the light in you.’ It was the perfect reflection of who she was. Kiah made you want to be better—smarter, kinder, bolder. She carried her brilliance with humility, and her presence alone challenged you to be your most fearless, compassionate self."


As someone who also graduated from East High School and The Barton School of Business at Wichita State University, I (Erin Cummings) did not personally know Kiah, but it is exceedingly clear that her impact and reach extended beyond any other person I know. I've heard story after story and read article after article about her. I’m sad not to have known her, but I am even more saddened that we’ve lost a brilliant mind and civil rights attorney when we need people like her now more than ever. Thinking of her family, her friends, and those she’s impacted. May her impact continue to reach far beyond the bounds of what’s possible.


Eloise Lawrence, Acting Faculty Director of the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau, described Kiah as "all light," leading with "grace, her brilliance, and her wonderful laugh." 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. Her legacy will live on, continuing to inspire those who work toward justice and equity.


Kiah Duggins. Say her name because it deserves to live on forever.


 

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