basketball, NBA Draft Pick, James Nnaji , Baylor University

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

November 23, 2025

NBA Legend Rodney Rogers Dies At 54, Leaving Lasting Impact On Paralysis Advocacy

The famed NBA Sixth Man spent the rest of his life advocating for those with spinal cord injuries following his own paralysis.

Famed NBA sixth man and advocate for paralysis victims, Rodney Rogers, has died at age 54.

Rogers was known for his performance during his professional and collegiate career. After playing and revolutionizing his basketball program at Wake Forest, Rogers was drafted to the NBA in 1993. Within his 12-year career, Rogers became an essential component of a team’s overall roster. According to The Grio, the small forward secured a Sixth Man Of the Year honor in 2000.

Prior to his role on teams such as the Los Angeles Clippers and Phoenix Suns, he stormed onto the Wake Forest Basketball squad. Getting them into the NCAA tournament, he earned the ACC Freshman of Year, ACC Player of the Year, and First Team All-American during his three-year stint at the North Carolina institution.

While a greater force in the collegiate realm, Rogers still maintained his prowess in the NBA. The super reserve played all 82 games in his first season with the Suns, while also helping the then-New Jersey Nets reached the NBA Finals in 2003.

However, he remains an instrumental figure in Wake Forest basketball history. The school honored his legacy upon the news of his passing. The Division 1 program also retired his jersey number of #54.

We grieve the passing of Rodney Rogers, 2022 Distinguished Alumni award winner and @WakeMBB legend.

Rodney inspired us on the court as ACC Rookie of the Year, ACC Player of the Year and NBA Sixth Man of the Year. After a life-changing accident in 2008 that left him paralyzed… pic.twitter.com/U7G09VrEOx
— Wake Forest University (@WakeForest) November 22, 2025

“Rodney Rogers transformed and accelerated the upward trajectory of Wake Forest University as well as Demon Deacons basketball from the moment he signed,” Wake Forest’s athletic director John Currie said in a statement. “His power, his grace, and even more so, his heart, changed this university forever. His perseverance after his accident inspired thousands. Rodney showed us what real strength looks like.”

Beyond basketball, a life-changing incident changed the course of Rogers’ life and legacy. In 2008, an ATV accident left Rogers paralyzed from the shoulders down. Remaining undefeated, the athlete launched the Rodney Rogers Foundation to help others stay encouraged while dealing with paralysis.

Considered a hero in his community and college hoops, Rogers remains a pivotal figure for his athletic achievement and subsequent years helping others remain strong through their spinal cord injuries.

“It’s easy to talk about his talent — and it was extraordinary — but what made Rodney unforgettable was how deeply he loved: his teammates, his family, Wake Forest, the game,” said Former Wake Forest head coach, Dave Odom. “He never complained. He faced life as it came and made the most of every moment. Watching him play was a joy, but knowing him was the real privilege.”

RELATED CONTENT: NBA Legend Lenny Wilkens Dead At 88

Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small Sr., Acquitted , Daughter Abuse Claims

by Mary Spiller

November 23, 2025

Ohio Officer Acquitted In Fatal Shooting of Pregnant Woman Ta’Kiya Young

Jury finds officer’s actions justified as family denounces decision and a separate civil case proceeds.

An Ohio jury has acquitted Blendon Township police officer Connor Grubb of all charges in the 2023 death of Ta’Kiya Young, a 21-year-old Black woman who was seven months pregnant. Grubb had been indicted on murder and additional counts after firing a single shot that resulted in Young’s death, but jurors concluded his use of force was legally justified.

The confrontation unfolded in August 2023 in the parking lot of a Kroger near Columbus, where Young was suspected of stealing bottles of alcohol. Body-camera footage shows the officer approaching Young’s vehicle with another officer and informing her she was accused of shoplifting. When she refused repeated orders to step out of the car, Grubb moved in front of the vehicle with his weapon drawn.

As reported by The Wall Street Journal, the video captures the moment Young accelerated, prompting Grubb to fire once through the windshield. Young later died from the gunshot wound; her unborn daughter did not survive.

Mark Collins, Grubb’s attorney, said the case was extraordinarily emotional for everyone involved. “We believe they followed the law,” he said of the jury’s verdict. Collins added that Grubb will carry the weight of his actions forever: “For the rest of his life he has to deal with this. He took a life on duty—and realized another’s life after the fact—and to walk around with that is a difficult situation.”

The courtroom erupted with grief when the decision was read. Young’s grandmother, Nadine Young, cried out in disbelief, saying, “It’s not right! This is not right!”

Sean Walton, the attorney representing Young’s relatives, condemned the police response that led to her death. Calling the shooting “a tragedy that should never have happened,” Walton argued that Young faced an impossible situation once a gun was pointed at her. While Young had only moments to react, he said, Grubb—“who had years of training”—also made a split-second decision that escalated the outcome.

Walton criticized what he described as a pattern of officers reacting out of disproportionate fear. “You have officers who have an unreasonable and irrational fear—with no weapons involved or folks doing very minimal behavior—that they escalate it into murder,” he said.

Special prosecutor Daniel Brandt said his team respected the jury’s choice, even as the broader implications of the case continue to draw scrutiny.

Parallel to the criminal trial, Young’s estate has filed a federal lawsuit accusing Blendon Township and its police chief of failing to properly train Grubb. The civil case, lodged in U.S. District Court in September, remains active.

While Collins insisted “this wasn’t a case motivated by racial animus,” the shooting of a pregnant Black woman—and the subsequent acquittal—has reignited longstanding concerns about policing, race, and accountability in Ohio and beyond.

by Mary Spiller

November 23, 2025

Texas Woman With High-Risk Pregnancy Dies After Repeatedly Being Denied Abortion Care

The death of 37-year-old Tierra Walker reportedly marks the fourth such case in Texas.

A Texas mother who pleaded with doctors for an abortion, due to her serious medical risks, died after being denied care, according to a new investigation by ProPublica. The death of 37-year-old Tierra Walker marks the fourth such case in Texas uncovered by the nonprofit since the state enacted its abortion ban.

Walker began experiencing unexplained seizures just weeks into her pregnancy in 2024. With a history of preeclampsia — a dangerous condition that had previously caused her to lose twins — she asked her medical team if ending the pregnancy could protect her health. According to KVUE, she was refused.

Roughly two months later, Walker’s teenage son found her unresponsive in her room on his birthday. She was 20 weeks pregnant.

“This is the fourth incident ProPublica has reported on,” journalist Kavitha Surana explained, noting earlier cases involving Josseli Barnica, Nevaeh Crain, and Porsha Ngumezi. Surana discussed the findings with KVUE, saying her team has spent more than a year examining maternal deaths in states with abortion bans. “We’ve already uncovered three cases, actually, in Texas and two in Georgia that were related to access to reproductive care.”

Surana said they learned of Walker’s situation through her family, who accompanied her during repeated ER and prenatal visits. “They were able to witness the deterioration of her health,” she said, adding that Walker “was very concerned about her health” as her seizures continued, her blood pressure spiked, and blood clots developed.

More than a dozen OB-GYN experts reviewed Walker’s medical records for ProPublica. Surana said the specialists agreed that standard care would have included repeated counseling about her risks and the option to end the pregnancy at any point for health reasons. Instead, Walker “was dismissed,” her family told reporters.

Even as her condition grew more precarious, Texas law left physicians uncertain about their ability to intervene. “These laws don’t leave a lot of space… they don’t have exceptions for health risks,” Surana said. Doctors, she added, fear the state’s severe criminal penalties — up to 99 years in prison and loss of licensure.

Walker ultimately died from preeclampsia, compounded by an enlarged heart, fluid buildup, and kidney damage. “She wasn’t even truly aware of how risky her pregnancy had become,” Surana noted.

Texas lawmakers recently passed legislation intended to give physicians more room to use medical judgment, but the measure took effect after Walker’s death. When ProPublica asked the bill’s authors whether it would cover conditions like Walker’s, none responded. Only one Democratic lawmaker replied, saying the reforms “didn’t go far enough.”

Walker leaves behind a 14-year-old son, whom she worried she might never see grow up, her family said.

TikTok, The Danish Deception, Black women

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

November 23, 2025

Viral ’Danish Deception’ TikTok Saga Sparks Backlash From Black Women Calling Out Storyteller Over Scamming Husband

Onyeka Ehie's husband swindled her, her family, as well as one friend of $300K in cryptocurrency

“The Danish Deception” has become the latest viral TikTok story, with the narrator facing backlash for her own victimization.

Following in the footsteps of the famous “Reesa Teesa” story, which popularized sharing one’s love woes for fame, a Dallas woman named Onyeka Ehie began detailing her own tale of romantic deception. Onyeka, a content creator and former “The Bachelor” contestant, had previously posted in September that she and her documented partner, named Martin Fredsgaard Andersen, ended their three-year relationship.

Onyeka later dived into a 25-part series, with videos often running in the 10-minute mark, cautioning viewers on her love story gone wrong. Calling it “The Danish Deception,” Onyeka described her whirlwind romance with her white, “handsome” Danish suitor whom she met on a trip. According to Chron, they soon fell in love, met each other’s families, exchanged vows, and bank transfers.

@onyekaehie The Danish Deception: Part 1 #danishdeception #fyp #series ♬ original sound – Onyeka Ehie

At the beginning, Onyeka thought she had found the man of her dreams. As she recalled the early days of their love affair, she remembered their experiences together fondly before things took a drastic turn. The man, whom she did not name publicly in the list of videos, told her that he was an Olympian and also came from Danish royalty. He reportedly worked in tech, amassing a million-dollar net worth.

While seemingly well-off, Onyeka began loaning her mysterious yet charming European husband money to cover various financial woes. The owed sum soon escalated to tens of thousands, with Andersen even reaching out to Onyeka’s friends and family to cover debts, unbeknownst to her. Despite the unusual financial request, their relationship turned to marriage as the two documented blending their lives and cultures, with Onyeka having a Nigerian background.

Later in their marriage, Onyeka uncovered a gambling addiction that caused her husband’s fleeting wallet and incessant desire for more cash. His scamming ways also led to his swindling $300,000 in cryptocurrency from another person in Onyeka’s circle. However, he finally broke the cycle of lies to leave her and their relationship.

“I never thought I would fall victim to something like this,” Onyeka said in her most recent TikTok post. “I want to protect other people. This man is a professional international con artist, so he will not stop. I do not want to be complicit in him continuing to hurt other people. … I’m just happy that I can do my part to protect other people.”

While their divorce was finalized on Nov. 4, the intense story made waves throughout social media. However, Onyeka did not receive a shower of support for her part in getting scammed either.

Some supporters appreciated Onyeka’s vulnerability and authenticity as she laid out this story of addiction, deception, and perception. However, Onyeka’s naysayers said she is less of a victim than she believes.

Given her social media persona, others felt that Onyeka prized her untrustworthy Danish suitor because of the proximity to whiteness she gained by being with him. They also said that Onyeka’s claims of wanting to “protect” others were unnecessary, as the scams were evident from the start, but her desire for a certain type of husband blinded her to the truth. Onyeka initially mentioned her ex-husband’s “blue eyes and blonde hair,” which raised eyebrows among many viewers.

@chifluencer Replying to @Onyeka Ehie ♬ original sound – CHIFLUENCER

“I’m sure it gave you an ego boost when you came in with this tall, Danish white man… Now you’re feeling more accepted by your white friends,” claimed one content creator.

While Onyeka remains adamant that she meant for her “Danish Deception” story to help others, critics cannot help but call out her alleged bluff and her willingness to keep the scams going for appearances’ sake.

by Mary Spiller

November 23, 2025

MMA Fighter Dies After Collapsing In Ring During Thai Boxing Match

Isaac Johnson, 31, was rushed from Cicero Stadium to a nearby hospital but was later pronounced dead.

A Chicago-area fighter died after collapsing during a heavyweight Thai boxing bout on the night of Nov. 21, prompting an investigation by local authorities.

Isaac Johnson, 31, was competing at Cicero Stadium, just outside Chicago, when he suffered an injury late in his match. According to information released by the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office and reported by NBC 4 Chicago, Johnson was transported by ambulance to Loyola Medical Center at 8:38 p.m. He was pronounced dead at 12:01 a.m. Nov. 22. Officials have not yet disclosed a cause of death.

Johnson had been scheduled to compete in a heavyweight Thai boxing match at the Matador Fighter Challenge, an event advertised as “the ultimate MMA and Thai event, where local warriors will battle it out in high-stakes, high-intensity matches.”

Promotional material listed him opposite fellow competitor Corey Newell.

Cicero police confirmed they are conducting a death investigation, standard procedure for incidents involving sudden or unexpected fatalities during athletic events.

Event promoter Joe Goyita shared a public statement on Facebook addressing the tragedy and expressing shock and deep sadness.

“This is a post I hoped to never make,” Goyita wrote. “Last night one of the fighters in our event, Isaac Johnson, collapsed towards [the] end of his fight. Medical attention was given by medical staff on hand and he was transported to hospital. I was then informed at around 1:30 a.m. this morning that he didn’t make it.

Goyita added that he was struggling to process the news. “I don’t have the words to express how I feel right now,” he said, extending “deepest condolences to his family, friends, and teammates.” He noted that more information would be available once medical reports are completed.

The Matador Fighter Challenge draws fighters from across the region, offering a mix of MMA and Thai boxing matchups. Nov. 21’s event continued as scheduled, but the mood shifted rapidly following Johnson’s collapse.

As family, friends, and the martial arts community await answers, officials say the investigation remains active. Further details, including the official cause of death, are expected once the medical examiner concludes the review.

Firefighter, lawSuit , Racist Harassment, Noose

by Mary Spiller

November 23, 2025

New Jersey Firefighter Files $25M Lawsuit Alleging Racist Harassment, Noose Incident

Black firefighter Patrick Thomas claims a colleague targeted him with a noose and repeated slurs.

A Bloomfield, New Jersey, firefighter has launched a $25 million federal lawsuit accusing the township, fire department leadership, and a fellow firefighter of racially motivated intimidation—allegations that center on the repeated appearance of a noose inside the firehouse.

Patrick Thomas, one of only four Black firefighters in a fire department of nearly 80, first went public in December 2023, stating that his colleague, veteran firefighter Walter Coffey, confronted him with a rope tied into a noose while on duty. Thomas recalled Coffey handing him the rope and saying, “I want you to figure out what kind of knot this is.”

As reported by Patch, Thomas said he immediately recognized the intent. “This is a noose,” he told Coffey. “This is what people used to hang my ancestors from trees.”

According to the complaint, the incident wasn’t isolated. Thomas alleges that just a week earlier, Coffey told him about another noose upstairs before a training class. Attorneys also say Coffey—employed by the department for roughly 25 years—has repeatedly used the N-word around Black firefighters without facing discipline.

The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office investigated and ultimately charged and indicted Coffey for bias intimidation. Coffey was suspended without pay after the November 2023 report and remains on unpaid leave while the township moves toward termination.

Thomas’ lawsuit seeks millions in damages for what his attorneys describe as “loss of liberty, emotional distress, humiliation, loss of property, costs and expenses, and other damages and injuries.”

Bloomfield Mayor Jenny Mundell addressed the lawsuit this week, saying the township “reaffirms its zero tolerance stance” toward racism.

“The Township of Bloomfield takes seriously its responsibility to ensure a safe and respectful workplace for all employees,” Mundell said. “There is absolutely no place for racist conduct or discrimination of any kind … and such behavior will be met with swift accountability.”

She emphasized that officials referred the case to law enforcement immediately and took departmental action the same day it was reported. “Walter Coffey remains on unpaid suspension and has not been permitted to return to duty,” she said, noting that his indictment underscores that “racist conduct will not be tolerated in Bloomfield.”

Mundell added that while litigation brought by Thomas limits what the township can publicly discuss, its values remain clear: “Racial harassment not only violates the law, it violates our core commitments to safety, dignity, and respect.”

Jellybean Johnson, Drummer,The Time, Minneapolis Sound

by Mary Spiller

November 23, 2025

Jellybean Johnson, Influential Drummer Of The Time And Minneapolis Sound Pioneer, Dies At 69

no cause of death has been released.

Jellybean Johnson — the Minneapolis drummer, guitarist, and producer whose work with Prince and the groundbreaking funk-rock group The Time helped define an entire musical era — has died at 69. His family confirmed his passing on Nov. 21, though no cause of death has been released. TMZ first reported the news.

Born Garry George Johnson, the self-taught musician was recruited by Prince in 1981 to join The Time, which emerged from the city’s influential Flyte Tyme collective. Johnson and Prince had known one another since their teenage years, long before their careers became intertwined.

Speaking to Australian Musician in 2018, Johnson reflected on his dual mastery of drums and guitar, saying, “The drums are physical and violent for me while the guitar is spiritual and emotional.” He added with trademark humor, “When you live here in the cold, you stay in the wintertime and you learn how to play.”

Johnson played a pivotal role in crafting what became known as the Minneapolis Sound — a sharp blend of funk, rock, synth-pop, and new wave. Beyond his work with The Time, he later joined Prince’s band The Family and appeared both in character and as himself in the films “Purple Rain” (1984) and “Graffiti Bridge” (1990). The Time went on to land multiple Top 10 hits on the R&B charts, including “777-9311,” “Jungle Love,” and the chart-topping “Jerk-Out.”

His creative reach extended far beyond his own bands. Johnson built a successful career as a producer and session player, contributing to Janet Jackson’s 1990 No. 1 hit “Black Cat,” among many other credits.

Tributes poured in across social media after news of his death. Sheila E., a close friend and longtime collaborator, shared her grief in a Facebook post, writing, “My dear friend Jellybean passed away a couple of hours ago… He was a kind human being, extremely talented and funny.”

Addressing him directly, she added, “I love u bean. Rest in peace and power.”

Susannah Melvoin of The Family also reflected on Johnson’s impact, saying, “My beautiful brother Jellybean Johnson has passed… Jellybean was the master of loving you like no brother could!”

View this post on Instagram

Johnson continued performing into recent years, including Grammy tributes to Prince in 2017 and 2020. In 2021, he co-founded the Minneapolis Sound Museum to preserve the musical legacy he helped create. A year later, he and The Time received a Soul Train Lifetime Achievement Award — a fitting honor for one of the architects of an unmistakable American sound.

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

November 23, 2025

Howard Students And Professors Debate Role Of AI In Learning

Debate over how students should use artificial intelligence is growing across HBCUs, and Howard University is no exception.

By Armani Durham

The debate over how students should use artificial intelligence is growing across historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), and Howard University is no exception.

In Washington, D.C., these views differ across Howard University’s campus, with some professors and students supporting AI and others opposing it.

Robert Hill, a Howard student, uses AI as a tool to assist him in his academic life and believes that negative views of AI stem from people’s doubt that they can control it.

“In all reality, I feel that AI is a tool that is controlled by a person, so the more people realize that they have control over AI and not the other way around, I feel that it would become a positive [stereotype],” Hill said.

According to a joint report by Huston-Tillotson University, Ellucian, and the United Negro College Fund, 98% of HBCU students, 96% of faculty, and 81% of administrators have used AI tools.

At North Carolina Central University, a new Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Research (IAIER) was introduced, aiming to inform the campus and beyond about how to use AI across all aspects of their lives.

Elvin Darko, a student at Howard, is quite familiar with AI, as he majors in computer information systems.

Some professors in Howard’s School of Business support the use of AI, including Darko’s e-business professor.

“One of my professors [told the class that] anyone…who isn’t using AI, is going to get left behind,” Darko said.

Dr. Yanick Rice Lamb, a professor in Howard’s School of Communications, believes that students’ use of AI should be communicated to professors and varies across majors.

“Students have to be sure that they’re transparent with their professors and that their professors have given them permission to [use AI],” Lamb said. “It [also] depends on their major.”

Rice Lamb has informed her students that they may use AI when conducting research for assignments, as long as she is made aware of the tool used, but she does not allow them to use AI for articles.

“For our core in journalism, I don’t think it works for the articles because it’s a trust issue and an ethical issue in dealing with the public,” Lamb said. “I think there’s so much misinformation and disinformation out there that we have to be careful.”

The criticism of AI being used by college students stems from the uncertainty that students will use it ethically. Despite this uncertainty, some students believe that AI should be encouraged on campuses, as they may encounter it in their career fields after college.

“I mean, if [students are] going to be able to use it after school, why not use it in school?” Darko said. “If every company is pretty much using AI now, I think we should be able to use it in school as well.”

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

November 23, 2025

Howard University Students Navigate Traveling For The Holidays After The Government Shutdown

With the holiday season closing in, Howard University students are joining college travelers nationwide in a race to secure flights home.

By Armani Durham

With the holiday season closing in, Howard University students are joining college travelers nationwide in a race to secure flights home, many booking tickets as early as the first weeks of November.

Haley Lucas, a student at DC-based Howard, is from Alaska but also travels to Tennessee to visit family during Thanksgiving and winter break. Lucas flies from Virginia, where Reagan National Airport (DCA) is located, to Tennessee to see her mother, and then to Alaska to visit her father.

“Every year, I count down the days until I get to go home because I just get so homesick,” Lucas said.

On Nov. 4, flights were stopped for approximately 90 minutes at DCA after a bomb threat was made against a United Airlines flight that was arriving at the airport. A few days after the threat was made, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reduced flight operations by up to 10% at high-traffic airports nationwide, including DCA.

The FAA reduced flights to ensure safety in the national airspace system as various airport employees worked without pay during the 43-day government shutdown that began on Oct. 1.

Despite the threat to DCA and the FAA’s reduction in flights, Howard students are determined to make it home in time for the holidays.

Jaiden Thomas, a Howard student, also has plans to travel to multiple states over the break. Thomas will fly from Virginia to Georgia to see her family and then from Georgia to Hawaii to see her boyfriend, who is in the Army.

If her flight were to be cancelled, like many others have experienced across the country, she would be “devastated.” Thomas does not have family in Washington, and her apartment, which she leased through Howard, requires her to leave for winter break.

“I would essentially…be displaced,” Thomas said.

Josiah Washington, another Howard student, feels comfortable with the process of flying out of DCA but worries about flying into the airport. Washington is visiting his family in Kentucky for a few days before returning to the district for work.

“I’m worried [about] coming back to D.C. rather than leaving,” Washington said. “I need to make sure I’m here so I can go to work and make money.”

In the midst of finishing finals, Howard students begin packing their suitcases in preparation for flights home for Thanksgiving and winter break. As they prepare, they are hopeful that they will make it home to their families and loved ones for the holidays without any flight complications.

RoDina Williams, Illinoisan, Doctorate In Clinical Laboratory Science

by Mary Spiller

November 22, 2025

RoDina Williams Becomes First Black Illinoisan To Earn A Doctorate In Clinical Laboratory Science

Dr. Williams has built a career that blends rigorous research, education, and an unwavering commitment to expanding representation in her field.

When Dr. RoDina L. Williams looks back on her academic start at Illinois State University, she recalls a place that nurtured her ambition and helped define her purpose. In an interview with Illinois State University on Nov. 19, Williams opened up about her journey. Now recognized as the first Black person in Illinois to earn a Doctorate in Clinical Laboratory Science (DCLS), Williams has built a career that blends rigorous research, education, and an unwavering commitment to expanding representation in her field.

“Illinois State truly shaped who I am as a person,” she said. “It’s where I discovered my passion and love for research, appreciated the importance of mentorship, and gained the self-assurance to aim higher than I previously thought I could.”

Williams began her journey as a transfer student, drawn to the university’s strong kinesiology program and the steady support she felt from faculty. The sense of community remained so powerful that she later returned to complete a second bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory science. “I found the same sense of community and purpose when I returned,” she recalled. “That constancy said a lot about the type of place ISU is.”

Throughout her studies, faculty members played a pivotal role in shaping her academic path. She credits Dr. Pete Smith from the School of Kinesiology and Recreation as the first person to introduce her to formal research. Dr. Dale Brown, she said, helped her understand how connecting lessons to lived experiences made learning “easier to learn and more memorable.” She even jokes that she “borrowed” his teaching style because it resonated with her and her students.

Her transition into medical laboratory science offered another layer of mentorship. Williams says Dr. Lori Woeste helped her grasp the interconnectedness of the discipline’s many subspecialties. And Dr. Beverly Barham, a long-standing mentor, continually encouraged her to pursue opportunities that pushed her forward in the field.

Achieving her DCLS degree became both a milestone and a responsibility. “It means a lot to me to be the first Black person in Illinois to receive a doctorate in clinical laboratory science,” she said. She emphasizes that the achievement goes beyond personal accomplishment—it’s about making space for young scientists who rarely see themselves reflected in laboratory medicine. “There are still very few Black professionals, and that lack of representation can make it hard for students of color to see themselves in the field. So, for me, earning this degree was about opening doors and showing what is possible.”

Williams sees mentorship as central to her mission. “My success is not only a reflection of my hard work but also a testament to the power of representation in a field where professionals of color remain significantly underrepresented,” she said. Her involvement with the Black Colleagues Association at Illinois State is one way she continues to give back.

Outside her academic and professional duties, she strives for balance as a scholar, mother, and advocate. “I’ve learned that balance doesn’t always mean everything is perfectly even; it means being present where I am,” she said. Her son, Kien John, keeps that perspective grounded. She laughs that her family reminds her she doesn’t always have to be “Dr. Williams”—sometimes she needs to be RoDina.

Today, Williams leads medical laboratory programs at City Colleges of Chicago, overseeing educational, clinical, and administrative operations. Asked to summarize her path, she chose three words: “Challenging, rewarding, honored.” And for her, Illinois State remains a cornerstone of that journey—a place that shaped her, supported her, and set the stage for everything that followed.