She performed with the distinguished Tuskegee Institute (University) Choir at Radio City Music Hall and also joined Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. as a member.

She later pursued graduate study at Columbia University and New York University before returning to Tuskegee University to earn her Master of Science in Counseling and Administration.

In 1968, she made history at Florida State University, becoming the first African American woman to earn a Ph.D. in Counseling and Education.

Dr. Hughes began her professional career as a counselor and educator in St. Petersburg, Florida, serving at Gibbs Junior College (now known as St. Petersburg College), Sixteenth Street Junior High School, and Lakewood High School. She also served as Director of Education for the first Job Corps Center for Women and later held administrative and faculty roles at Florida Presbyterian College (now known as Eckerd College).

In 1971, she relocated to California, beginning a 15-year tenure at San Diego State University, where she served as Professor of Counselor Education, Counselor in the University Counseling Center, and ultimately, Director of Counseling and Placement Services. During this time, she also helped found the California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP) and taught one of the earliest courses on the Psychology of Women.

Dr. Hughes went on to hold senior leadership positions at some of the nation's most prominent universities, including, Associate Vice President of Student Development at Arizona State University; Vice President for Student Affairs at the University of Toledo; and Vice President for Student Affairs at the University of Minnesota, where she served as a chief student affairs officer on the Twin Cities campus and oversaw Policy Development across multiple campuses.

A nationally recognized leader in the Student Affairs profession, Dr. Hughes was elected the 48th President of the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) in 1987, becoming the association's 17th woman and third African American Chief Executive. Her presidency was defined by principled leadership, strategic planning, and an unwavering commitment to diversity and human rights. She guided ACPA through landmark initiatives, including the relocation of a national convention in response to political actions that conflicted with the Association's core values, and the launch of pioneering diversity outreach programs. She received multiple ACPA honors and remained deeply committed to mentoring emerging professionals throughout her life.

In 1994, Hughes made history as California State University, Stanislaus's first woman and first African American President, and she also became the university's longest-serving leader. During her eleven-year tenure, she oversaw unprecedented growth, significant increases in enrollment, fundraising, and campus infrastructure. She was later named President Emerita.In July 2005, Hughes responded to the invitation to lead again, becoming Dillard University's eighth president and its first woman president at the historically black college or university (HBCU) in New Orleans, Louisiana. Less than six weeks into her presidency, Hurricane Katrina devastated the campus and the city of New Orleans. Dr. Hughes led one of the most extraordinary and remarkable recovery efforts in higher education history. She evacuated students and staff, secured temporary housing and instructional space via The Hilton Hotel Riverwalk, raised hundreds of millions of dollars, and successfully rebuilt a campus that had been submerged under floodwaters. Her insistence that Dillard University remain rooted in New Orleans preserved the University's legacy and mission and stands as one of her most enduring achievements. Throughout her career, Dr. Hughes was a prolific author, speaker, and global ambassador for education. She delivered keynote addresses and lectures across the United States and Internationally, including China, South Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Central America. She served on editorial boards of major journals, held leadership roles in numerous national organizations, and helped establish international university partnerships across multiple continents. Her many honors include several honorary doctorates and national recognition as one of the leading Black women in higher education, and one of the ten most recognized figures in Higher Education, according to a 2007 article in Ebony Magazine.A founding member and chair of the Millennium Leadership Institute,

Dr. Hughes was preceeded in death by her parents Judge Hughes, Sr. and Alverta Hall Hughes, and two brothers.

Dr. Hughes is survived by her son, grandson, two granddaughters, two great grandchildren and six  brothers and sisters, along with a host of nieces and nephews, extended family and friends.

Funeral services were held on January 24, 2026