JC Hudgison Graduates from Troy University with the Help of The Emory R. Rodgers Leadership in Building Safety Fellowship

In 2019, John “JC” Hudgison set his sights on a new goal: he wanted to go to graduate school and attain a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from Troy University. This was no small undertaking – he worked full-time, had a growing family and was concerned about the cost of going back to school. But he understood the value of higher education and started taking classes anyway, and then turned to the International Code Council to help him get across the finish line.

Hudgison applied for, and ultimately won, the 2022 Emory R. Rodgers Leadership in Building Safety Fellowship. Created in honor of Emory R. Rodgers, who devoted more than 40 years to building safety, the fellowship provides building safety professionals with up to $20,000 to cover the cost of an educational program and any associated travel. With the Emory R. Rodgers Leadership in Building Safety Fellowship, Hudgison was able to complete his degree without delay and without worrying about the financial impact.

“It freed me up financially, that was the biggest thing,” said Hudgison. “Most of the classes cost around $1,900 every nine weeks. Having a family of four, trying to figure out how to do that with all the other expenses, [was difficult]. With the Emory R. Rodgers award, I could just take and pass the classes because I had the financial support to get it done.”

A Thirst for Knowledge

Hudgison came to the building safety industry with both a passion for and a degree in architecture from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He minored in urban studies, knowing that you can’t achieve building safety without government, planning, zoning and all of the things that tie into this industry. He worked his way up to Building Inspections & Code Enforcement Director for Columbus Consolidated Government in Georgia before moving to Florida to serve as the City of Tampa’s Construction Services Center Manager and Chief Building Official. Throughout his career, his thirst for knowledge inspired him to search for new ways to elevate his skills and expertise.

“At Troy University, I gained a better understanding of how government works,” Hudgison recalled.

He studied organizational behavior to learn more about the internal workings within governmental departments and uncover new insights regarding how the supervisory process can shape building safety. He also studied budgeting, financial management, strategic planning and public policy, and zeroed in on how rules and regulations differ between states.

In short, Hudgison wanted to know how all of these pieces tied into the building code and vice versa.

“Having this holistic view is one of the reasons why I was interested in doing this,” he added. “It was interesting because I could use a lot of the experience I have from work in my classes. That was definitely a unique way I was able to take advantage of my current work experience.” 

A Flexible Program for an Evolving Career

Hudgison was attracted to Troy University because he could take all of his classes online. This was beneficial as he attempted to balance work and family with his goal to achieve a new degree. When he moved to Florida in May 2020 amid a global pandemic, the freedom to continue studying online – without any hiccups or a harsh adjustment period – proved to be invaluable. 

“The biggest attraction was that it was all online,” said Hudgison. “It allowed the flexibility that, regardless of where I was, I was still able to take the same classes. I didn’t have to change schools or transfer anything because it was all available online. I had a schedule of classes I could take in any order I wanted to qualify for graduation.”

With his MPA in hand, Hudgison said he is prepared for future opportunities in city government and could become an administrator, deputy administrator or deputy city manager.

“If an opportunity came around, I would definitely be qualified,” Hudgison said confidently. “My years of experience working with city government, having managed staff, and now with my secondary degree, makes me attractive to those jobs if I choose to go that direction.”

Regardless of where his future takes him, Hudgison is committed to raising the standards of building safety whenever and wherever possible. He has served on many Code Council committees and recently chaired the 2024 ICC Residential Energy Code Consensus Committee. He was also appointed to the Code Council Board of Directors in July 2024 and is a member of the Emerging Leaders Membership Council.

Regarding his work with the Code Council, Hudgison said his goal is to raise the profile of the building official.

“I understand the impact the Code Council has had on my life personally and on society as a whole,” said Hudgison. “I just feel it is an honor to serve at the highest level of the organization. I want to be of service to the membership and want to benefit the organization and building safety for everyone. Being able to take that step, it is a great honor, and I am excited for the future.”

To learn more about the Emory R. Rodgers Fellowship and other scholarship opportunities from the Code Council, click here.