Ruth-Ercile Hodges served at the time of her death as a U.S. Consular Corps staff member. Hodges was formerly commissioned as a foreign service officer and awarded her first overseas posting to the U.S. Embassy in the Dominican Republic. Fewer than 3 percent of all applicants examined for foreign service officers by the Department of Defense are selected.

While studying for her bachelor’s degree at Spelman College, Hodges was one of 12 students in the nation to receive the Foreign Affairs Fellowship, awarded by the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation and U.S. Department of State. Hodges received a master’s from George Washington University.

While at CCHS she organized the Human Rights/Group Council and coordinated the Capital District’s “Day of the African Child” for UNICEP and the United Nations. Hodges died in an automobile accident before she got to serve her post in the Dominican Republic.