Emory R. Rodgers

Leadership in Building Safety Fellowship

The Emory R. Rodgers Leadership in Building Safety Fellowship is awarded annually to a building safety professional pursuing an executive-level career path, aiming to enhance leadership skills through an eligible program sponsored by a higher education institution.

The Fellowship provides up to $20,000 to cover the full educational program costs and travel expenses for the recipient.

The next application period will open Summer 2025.

FAQs

What is awarded through the Fellowship?

Who is eligible for the Fellowship?

Eligibility Criteria for the Fellowship includes.

Professional Experience: Must hold at least two Code Council certifications and have a minimum of five years in a building safety profession
Leadership Demonstration: Career accomplishments, awards and recognitions showcasing leadership abilities in a building safety role
Recommendations: Submission of at least three recommendation letters, including one from an immediate supervisor and others from community leaders
Personal Statement: A detailed personal statement outlining personal goals and qualifications
Code Council Membership: Active membership in the Code Council and participation in its programs
Community Involvement: Engagement in community, civic and/or extracurricular activities or affiliations
Program Identification: Must identify up to three eligible programs at the time of application (acceptance into a program is not required for initial consideration)
Program Acceptance: Fellowship award is contingent upon acceptance into one of the identified eligible programs within four months of official notification from the Code Council

Where can you apply for the Fellowship?

Who selects the Fellowship recipient?

The Code Council’s Professional Development Council (PDC) will serve as the body that initially evaluates all Fellowship applications. Upon its review of all applications, the PDC will create a list of its recommended award recipients and submit this list through the CEO to the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors. The Executive Committee will then evaluate the PDC’s recommendations and select the final award recipient, if any.

What programs are eligible for the Fellowship?

An eligible program must be sponsored or conducted by a higher education institution but cannot be associated with a degree. Eligible programs include those hosted by higher education institutions that focus on executive-level training, strategic management, leadership development and/or other similar concentrations.

The following are examples of eligible programs. This list is not all-inclusive and is intended to illustrate examples of eligible programs only.

University of Minnesota – Leadership Essentials Certificate
University of Iowa – Executive Leadership Program
Harvard University – Senior Executives in State and Local Government
Cornell University – Executive Leadership
Pepperdine University – Executive Leadership Essentials
Emory University – Roberto C. Goizueta Leadership Certificate
U.S. Fire Administration – Executive Fire Officer Program

Is the Code Council involved in the curriculum of eligible programs?

Past Winners

2023 Recipient

Charles "Andy" Higgins
Director, Customer Success, City of Seattle, Department of Construction and Inspections

Higgins will use the Fellowship’s funds to complete a Senior Executives in State and Local Government program at Harvard University.

2022 Recipient

JC Hudgison
Construction Services Manager and Building Official for the City of Tampa Florida

Hudgison used the Fellowship’s funds to complete his master’s degree in public administration at Troy University.

2021 Recipient

Andre Jean
Permit Supervisor for the Division of Building Safety in Jefferson County, Colorado

Jean used the Fellowship’s funds to complete his master’s degree in public administration at the University of Colorado.

2020 Recipient

Ron Clements
Building Official for Chesterfield County, Virginia, and director of the Chesterfield Building Inspection Department

Clements used the Fellowship’s funds to attend the LEAD Program for local government leaders at the University of Virginia Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service.

2019 Recipient

Chris Landreth
Supervising Building Inspector for the City of Colusa California

Landreth used the Fellowship’s funds to attend a program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Sloan School of Management to obtain an executive certificate in management and leadership.

About Emory R. Rodgers

Emory 200 Emory R. Rodgers spent more than four decades devoting himself to the building safety profession and to the creation and ongoing development of the International Codes®. As a leader in the industry and in the Code Council community, he put forth unprecedented efforts in educating and preparing the next generation of building safety professionals.

During his lifetime, Emory was recognized by numerous organizations for his contributions to building safety, including the Virginia Building and Code Officials Association, American Institute of Architects and National Institute of Building Sciences. He also received the prestigious Bobby J. Fowler Award, recognizing his visionary leadership as a Past Presiding Officer of the Code Council.

To commemorate his everlasting influence as a mentor and adviser, the Code Council created the Emory R. Rodgers Leadership in Building Safety Fellowship.