Kiah Danielle Duggins was born on September 16, 1994, in Wichita, Kansas, to
proud parents, Dr. Maurice and Gwen Duggins. She was the eldest daughter and a
proud big sister to her two younger siblings, Aisha and Donovan.

Kiah spent her early years in Wichita Public Schools, attending Mueller and
Spaght Elementary. Early in life, she showed a commitment to education, service, and
social justice. She was intelligent, inquisitive, and full of ideas—so much so, that her
mother created an "idea book" for her to jot her ideas down. When she was ten years
old, she came to her parents with a notebook and exclaimed, "Mom and Dad, here are
my five- and ten-year goals!"

Kiah entered Robinson Middle School in 2006 as part of its pre-international
Baccalaureate Program. She excelled in her classes and enjoyed meeting people who
became her lifelong friends. Kiah attended Southeast High School for one year and then
decided to enter East High's International Baccalaureate Program. During high school
she was student body vice-president, captain of the dance team and involved in several
clubs and activities. She graduated from East High in 2013 at the top of her class,
earning both her high school and International Baccalaureate diplomas.

In the fall of 2013, Kiah entered college at Wichita State University and was
awarded Wichita State's Barton Business Scholarship. She was heavily involved at
Wichita State, serving as a diversity ambassador, peer academic leader, honors
senator, and Chief of Staff for Student Government. She spent her sophomore and
junior years participating in Alternative Spring Break, which allowed her to volunteer and
serve underrepresented populations in other cities. During her senior year, she was
humbled and honored to be chosen as Michelle Obama's policy intern! She spent five
months working in the White House helping with the Let Girls Learn Initiative. She
graduated Summa Cum Laude from Wichita State in 2017 with undergraduate degrees
in International Business, Spanish, and Economics.

With aspirations of seeing the world and serving others, Kiah was selected as a
Fulbright Scholar for 2017-2018. She moved 8,000 miles away from home to a tiny town
in Guanshan, Taiwan, where she taught English to elementary students for a year. In
her Fulbright application, she wrote about her commitment to international education
and her values of "entering uncomfortable situations with the humility it takes to listen
and create relevant, reconciliatory learning environments" and "creating joy, light and
learning in the classroom." She lived those values during her Fulbright year in Taiwan.
She loved her time in Taiwan and saw it as one of her most memorable and cherished
life experiences. While living in Taiwan, Kiah studied for the LSAT, as she believed that
God was calling her to be a public servant as a civil rights attorney. It was in Taiwan that
she found out that she had been accepted to several law schools, ultimately choosing
Harvard as the place she would study law.

Kiah enrolled at Harvard Law School in the fall of 2018. She found her first year
to be the most difficult. She slowly found her footing at Harvard and was heavily
involved in Harvard Defenders and the Harvard Black Law Students Association. She
eventually joined and was elected president of the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau, where
she worked throughout the pandemic to protect families from unlawful evictions. She
was a Cravath International Fellow, a Law for Black Lives Fellow, and received a
Clinical Pro Bono Outstanding Student Award for her tireless efforts as a student and
advocate for the organizations and causes she championed. She earned her JD from
Harvard Law School in the spring of 2021.

After law school, Kiah accepted a position as a civil rights attorney with the Civil
Rights Corps in Washington, D.C., litigating on behalf of movements challenging
unconstitutional policing and money bail practices in Tennessee, Texas, and
Washington, D.C., where she worked until her untimely death. She had accepted a
position as a law professor at Howard University and was slated to start her new career
in the fall of 2025.

Although Kiah accomplished remarkable things and received numerous awards
and public recognition, they pale in comparison to who Kiah was as a person. Her most
endearing qualities were her contagious joy and her ability to connect with people on a
deep level. She loved her friends and family fiercely and went out of her way to
demonstrate that love. She declared herself a "Disney Adult" and would often ask her
friends and family about the most magical part of their day. Kiah was also a world-
traveler. She courageously embarked on numerous solo trips and encouraged her
family and friends to step out of their comfort zones and see the world as well—often
hosting, leading, and shepherding them through new international experiences. She
visited thirty-five countries in her short lifetime.

Her life, though tragically cut short, is a reminder of the power of kindness, joy,
and determination. Kiah's deep love for her friends and family, as well as her passion for
advocating for marginalized people leaves an indelible mark. Her dedication to traveling,
learning, and inspiring others speaks to her adventurous spirit. The world has lost an
extraordinary individual: but her memory, impact, and light will continue to inspire those
who knew her.
Kiah was preceded in death by her maternal grandmother, Bernice Decker:
paternal grandparents, George and Albertha Duggins and uncle, Sean Decker.
Her love and light will live on in the hearts and memories of those who will miss
her presence: her parents, Dr. Maurice and Gwen Duggins; siblings, Aisha and
Donovan Duggins; aunts, Diane Nutt, Sandra Decker, Veronica Decker, Juanita James,
Cecelia England, Elvira Gumbs, Pam Duggins and Camella Andrews; uncles, Norman

Decker and Clyde Gumbs; boyfriend Adrian Ma, and a host of cousins, extended family,
and friends.