Ruby L. Broadway, longtime professor of biology at Dillard University in New Orleans, passed away on March 10. She was 71 years old.
A native of Washington, D.C., Dr. Broadway dedicated over four decades of her life to Dillard University. She joined the university in 1983 as an assistant professor of biology, ultimately rising to the rank of full professor. During her tenure, she also held distinctions such as the Delta Sigma Theta Distinguished Professor Endowed Chair and the ACUE Distinguished Teaching Scholar. Dr. Broadway also taught as an adjunct professor with Southern University at New Orleans for more than 20 years.
As a scholar of environmental health and molecular biology, Dr. Broadway focused her work on issues such as lead contamination and the cellular mechanisms involved in leukemia research. In addition to her own research, she was dedicated to advancing STEM pathways for students from historically underrepresented communities. At Dillard, Dr. Broadway helped to establish academic enrichment programs for local elementary and middle school students, a pre-freshman engineering summer program, and numerous research and mentoring opportunities for undergraduate students.