Contact: Kawana McGough, Division of Development and Alumni Engagement
The Tuskegee University Division of Development and Alumni Engagement and the College of Veterinary Medicine are saddened to announce the passing of esteemed alumna Dr. Danielle Spencer ’93. Dr. Spencer died Aug. 11, 2025, after a courageous and prolonged battle with cancer.
Dr. Spencer first rose to national prominence as Dee Thomas on the 1970s sitcom What’s Happening!! before dedicating her life to veterinary medicine. Spencer earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Tuskegee University in 1993 and dedicated her career to serving animals and her community with compassion and commitment.
“The Tuskegee University family is sorry to learn of Dr. Spencer’s passing,” said Dr. Mark A. Brown, President and CEO. “We have been quite proud of her accomplishments and the way she represented Tuskegee. We add our condolences to her family as friends and fans of her career.”
In October 2017, Dr. Spencer returned to her alma mater on October 23–24 as the featured guest of the College of Veterinary Medicine. During her visit, she engaged with faculty and students in small-group settings and led an open forum titled “My Journey from Hollywood: The Challenges Along the Way – Success is in Our DNA.”
Her life was defined by resilience. In 1977, she survived a life-altering car accident that left her in a coma, yet she returned to acting and later achieved her veterinary dream. She overcame paralysis, battled breast cancer, and faced additional serious health challenges in 2018 — all with determination and grace.
She is survived by her mother, Cheryl; her brother, Jeremy; and countless others whose lives she touched.
© 2025 Tuskegee University
