Tanya L. Haggins, JD, LL.M., has served as the President and founder of Lakewood University for well over 25 years. Lakewood University is a 100% online, accredited college offering MBA, bachelor’s, and associate’s degrees, as well as certificate programs in the medical, information technology, business, and legal fields.
With more than 35 years of experience in business, Tanya has worked as an educator, negotiator, manager, administrator, consultant, arbitrator, and mediator. She is an LL.M. graduate of the world-renowned program at Pepperdine University School of Law, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution. Tanya also holds a Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Miami School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from Bowling Green State University. Serving as a mediator for Juvenile Court in Cuyahoga, she impacted thousands of families through her innovative mediation practice, bringing them together.
Due to her creative approach to promoting peace, Tanya received the Peacemaker of the Year award from Congressman Denis Kucinich and Mayor Pusquelli for her contributions in the dispute resolution arena. In 2001, Tanya appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show. In 2019, she was named one of the Trailblazers of the Year by the National Council of Negro Women. Tanya is also the author of the book “How to Make It Big Resolving Disputes” and the children’s book “Kiki’s Magic Words.”
In addition to her professional accomplishments, Tanya has been generous in helping people in various ways, most notably through the development of full tuition waiver grants for programs at the University. These grants aim to assist students in obtaining quality education without the burden of debt.
A military veteran of the United States Air Force, Tanya served in the supply unit. In her spare time, she selects two to five teenagers to mentor each summer through the Youth Opportunities Unlimited program. Some of these teens have become long-term employees and matriculated to college due to her mentoring and leadership.
