Coroner, Richland County, South Carolina — serving since 2020. Coroner Naida Rutherford made history as the first woman, first medical professional, and first African American to serve as Richland County coroner in the office’s 173-year history. She earned her bachelor’s degree in biology, magna cum laude, from Benedict College, followed by a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of South Carolina Upstate, a master’s degree in nursing from the University of South Carolina and a doctor of nursing practice from Jacksonville State University. Raised in the foster care system and homeless as a teenager, Rutherford has said she grew up without positive role models who looked like her—so she decided to become one. In 2020, she defeated a 20-year incumbent to win elected office. As coroner, Rutherford draws upon the skills she developed as a nurse practitioner: careful assessment, asking the right questions, and determining whether the facts tell a consistent story. She applies that clinical judgment during some of her community’s most difficult moments, from routine death investigations to high-profile cases under intense public scrutiny. Rutherford has also transformed the coroner’s office into a platform for education and public service. She launched South Carolina’s first Coroner Cadet program, introducing students to careers in forensic science, and created the Ask a Doctor series to bring trusted medical guidance into underserved neighborhoods. An outspoken advocate for civic engagement, Rutherford encourages young people—especially young Black women—to participate in politics and enter spaces where they have not traditionally been represented with confidence and authenticity. Her leadership demonstrates how nurses can use clinical expertise and lived experience to serve their communities in entirely new ways.