Tanya Haggins has served as President and founder of Lakewood University for well over 22 years. Recently she has had over 1 Million dollars in student loans forgiven. 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.

Tanya has more than 35 years of experience in business as an educator, negotiator, manager, administrator, consultant, arbitrator, and mediator.  Tanya is an LL.M. graduate of the world-renowned program at Pepperdine University School of Law, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, and holds a Juris Doctor Degree from the University 0f Miami School of Law as well a bachelor’s degree from Bowling Green State University. Tanya served as a mediator for Juvenile Court in Cuyahoga where she impacted thousands of families through her innovative mediation practice to help bring families together.

Because of her creative approach to bringing peace, Tanya received the Peacemaker of the Year award from Congressman Denis Kucinich and Mayor Pusquelli for her contributions in the dispute resolution arena.  Further, in 2019, Tanya was named as 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.”

Tanya has been helping people with her generosity in several was. However most notable, are the full tuition waiver grants that she provides for programs through the University.

Tanya is a military veteran of the United States Air Force where served in the supply unit.

In her spare time, Tanya selects two to five teenagers to mentor each summer, through the Youth Opportunities Unlimited program. Some of the teens have then become long term employees and have matriculated to college due to her mentoring and leadership.