After decades away, retired firefighter shares MTSU degree pursuit on WKRN ‘Local on 2’ [+VIDEO]

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee State University student Vincent Rodriguez calls himself a “36-year senior,” but he’ll have to find a new name for himself after the university’s Saturday, Aug. 10, summer commencement ceremony inside Murphy Center.

Graduating with a bachelor’s degree in integrated studies, the Murfreesboro resident said he has no plans to end his academic journey at MTSU, with plans already in motion to pursue a graduate degree in business.

Rodriguez was joined by Jonell Hinsey, associate vice provost of student success, to share his educational journey at WKRN-TV News 2 studios in Nashville for their “MTSU on 2” segment with co-hosts Laura Schweizer and Stephanie Langston. You can watch the segment below.

Rodriguez, now 60, moved to Middle Tennessee from Houston in 1985. Not long after making it to Nashville, he joined the Nashville Fire Department, a job he kept for 32 years until he retired in 2020. In the NFD he worked on the swift water rescue team, as well as the marine operations section.

While working for the fire department, he decided to enroll at Volunteer State Community College. He remembers taking online courses in the early ’90s when the lectures were on video tape.

“Guys at the firehall would see me up until 3 a.m. watching these tapes and taking notes,” Rodriguez said. “It’s crazy how far online classes have come since then, but also how far I have come.”

Murfreesboro, Tenn., resident and soon-to-be Middle Tennessee State University graduate Vincent Rodriguez, fourth from right, and his family pose in front of the Van Wickle Gates of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, after his daughter, Alexis, graduated. (Submitted photo)

Rodriguez, like many college students who stop-out, took a break from his education when his first daughter was born in 1992. He and his wife, Tabitha, would then welcome another child every two years after that. The couple raised six children in total, five daughters and a son.

Shown here in uniform, Nashville, Tenn., Fire Department Capt. Vincent Rodriguez served for 32 years for the department before retiring in 2020 and resuming his college degree journey at MTSU, where he will graduate this August. (Submitted photo)

After watching four of them graduate from college, Vincent is excited that it’s finally his turn.

“I wasn’t going to walk in my graduation, but my family quickly informed me that was not going to be an option,” he said. “They’ve all been so supportive of me during this long, long journey and they correctly said they wanted to celebrate it.”

Rodriguez never questioned if he was going to finish his degree; he always knew he eventually would graduate.

“The desire to keep moving forward and achieve my goals still never went away,” he said.

Once Rodriguez decided to resume his academic journey at MTSU, he said was then referred to MTSU’s University College so he could quickly finish his bachelor’s degree.

“I had credits from Vol State and Lipscomb University,” Rodriguez said. “With integrated studies, I was able to use almost all those hours I’d already earned and move right into my classes.”

The integrated studies major is flexible by design, perfect for adult students with a wide range of experience or someone who wants a broad-based educational experience. Students within the major work closely with their academic adviser to plan out their core courses and choose their areas of study.

Now retired Nashville, Tenn., Fire Department Capt. Vincent Rodriguez is pictured in his rookie year photo. He went on to serve 32 years before retiring in 2020 and resuming his college degree journey at MTSU, where he will graduate this August. (Submitted photo)

While the degree can be completed online, Rodriguez opted to attend his classes in person. He said it was inspiring seeing students so much younger than he was making names for themselves and forging their career paths at MTSU.

“I was surrounded by students 40 years younger than me,” Rodriguez said. “They’ve put together such a great community across campus. People were always trying to help one another out.”

So, after 32 years of helping his community with the Nashville Fire Department and working historic events like the ice storm of 1993, the downtown tornado in 1998, and the 2010 flood, Rodriguez is ready to take on his next challenge as an MBA student in MTSU’s Jennings A. Jones College of Business.

“Since I have lived in Murfreesboro, and especially since becoming a student, I have learned how fantastic MTSU’s College of Business is,” he said. “It truly is an unbelievable asset to this community, and I am ecstatic to be a part of it.”

Rodriguez and his fellow Class of 2024 graduates will receive their degrees, Saturday, Aug.10, at 9 a.m. If you are unable to attend, you can watch the commencement ceremony on MTSU’s True Blue TV and the university’s Facebook page, https://facebook.com/mtsublueraiders.

For Rodriguez, his march soon across the Murphy Center stage is the path to something more.

“While I have finished my degree, I am thrilled that I have not finished seeking out the next adventure,” he said.

— Hunter Patterson (Hunter.Patterson@mtsu.edu)