Dr. Saundra Herndon Oyewole

Dr. Saundra Herndon Oyewole, a mother, grandmother, educator, and longtime advocate for diversity in the sciences and in the medical profession, passed away peacefully on September 26, 2025, surrounded by immense love. She was 82 years old and suffered from complications associated with Alzheimer’s Disease.

Saundra is survived by her two sons, Tunde (Harriet) and Kolade, her daughter Aramide (Edwin), five grandchildren, her siblings Diane, Jackie, and Tamir, and a large extended family of cousins, nieces, and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Godwin Gbolade Oyewole; her mother, Helen Mae Kirkland Herndon; and her father, Laurence Homer Herndon.

Born on April 26, 1943, in Washington, D.C., Saundra's life was marked by a deep commitment to education, scientific inquiry, and equity. She often said she was inspired by Albert Schweizer’s commitment to science and service. Saundra graduated magna cum laude from Howard University in 1965 with a B.S. in Zoology and was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society. She went on to earn her Master's degree from the University of Chicago in 1967. Saundra completed her Ph.D. in microbiology at the University of Massachusetts, where she and her husband received their doctorates on the same day—a testament to their shared dedication to learning and service.

Saundra—or “Dr. O” as her students called her—began her academic career at Hampshire College in 1981 as an Assistant Professor of Microbiology. She later joined Trinity Washington University, where she served as Professor of Biology, Clare Booth Luce Professor, Dean of the Faculty, and ultimately Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences until she retired in 2013. Beyond academia, Saundra was proud to have served as the Program Director of Undergraduate Education at the National Science Foundation, and was a longtime leader in the National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions. She was a passionate advocate for increasing diversity in the medical profession to better reflect the demographics of the United States. One of the highlights of her career was testifying before the United States Congress on the status of women in science as a representative of the Association for Women in Science.

Aside from her professional endeavors, Saundra was a storyteller who was born with “the gift of gab.” Her warm smile could light up a room. As a child she enjoyed spending summers in Mississippi at the family home where her maternal grandparents (Velie Bedenfield Kirkland and Timothy Hester Kirkland) raised Saundra’s mother and her mother’s eight siblings. Saundra had fond memories of returning for the annual Homecoming in Harmony, Mississippi, and continued the tradition by taking her three children to several Homecomings.

Saundra and her family belonged to the First Baptist Church of Deanwood and served in many capacities. Her parents were active members of First Baptist, who both taught Sunday School. Her dad was a trustee, actively involved with structural improvement projects around the church, and her mom was a deaconess. In high school Saundra became the junior church clerk and served in that role until she graduated from Howard University. She was also a member of the Cora Biggs Scholarship Foundation.

Saundra loved traveling and learning about different cultures around the world. She never passed up an opportunity to enjoy a delicious meal. Some of her favorite memories included family gatherings for Thanksgiving and Christmas, especially savoring homemade meals and hand dancing to Al Green’s songs.

She will be deeply missed by her loving family and remembered fondly by countless students, colleagues, and friends whose lives she touched through her mentorship, leadership, and unwavering belief in the power of education.

A celebration of Saundra’s life will be held on Saturday, October 4, 2025, at the First Baptist Church of Deanwood, 1008 45th St N.E., Washington, D.C. 20019. Visitation at 10 am and funeral service at 11 am. Interment at Fort Lincoln Cemetery, 3401 Bladensburg Road, Brentwood, MD 20722. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Association for Women in Science (AWIS): www.awis.org.

A visitation will be held on October 4, 2025, at 10:00 am at First Baptist Deanwood, located at 1008 45th St NE, Washington, DC, 20019.

The Celebration of Life will follow at the same venue at 11:00 am.

The committal service will take place at Fort Lincoln Funeral Home & Cemetery, 3401 Bladensburg Rd, Brentwood, MD, 20722, at 3:00 pm on the same day.