Milestones, Memories and Learning Together

Since that day, the two have been close. Rodney appreciates his daughter’s compassion, drive and ability to connect with others. Jelisa enjoys her father’s sense of humor and the way he inspires her and her sister to engage in important conversations—challenging each other as they challenge themselves.
 
The two have been cheering each other on for years, celebrating successes and encouraging family members to always think bigger.

Now, the father and daughter who share a birthday will have the chance to share another significant day—graduation from the McAnulty College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts. Rodney, a preacher for more than 25 years, will receive a PhD in rhetoric, and Jelisa will earn a bachelor’s in communication studies and a minor in journalism from the same program.
 
This milestone is steeped in family ties. As Rodney considered starting the PhD program, he sought advice from his father, a retired police officer. His father was always supportive but generally did not sway his son in one direction or another.
 
“He would normally just say, ‘I support you in what you do,’” said Rodney. “But when I asked him about the program, he told me he wanted me to do it. It was a different and more straightforward response than I had ever received from him.”
 
Rodney quizzed his dad on why he felt so strongly, and his dad replied, “I feel like if you get this PhD, then I’ll have a PhD.”  
 
Rodney’s father passed away during his second semester in the program, but those words continued to motivate.
 
Meanwhile, inspired by her dad and the journey he began based on his own father’s advice, Jelisa transferred from another university to join Rodney on the Bluff.
 
“When I transferred, we joked about how funny it would be if I graduated with my dad,” said Jelisa. “And now it’s actually happening, and it’s a really cool, full-circle moment for me.”
 
They commuted to school together every day, exchanging stories and chatting about all the life-changing opportunities they’ve embraced on campus, including Jelisa’s semester abroad in Ireland and her involvement in Greek Life.
 
“The Ireland experience was one-in-a-lifetime,” said Jelisa. “What Duquesne has offered to me are things I can’t say enough about that will always be monumental and important to me.”
 
Friends and family from Pittsburgh and beyond will attend the commencement ceremony to celebrate Rodney and Jelisa’s special day, including their pastor from Brooklyn, members of Rodney’s Homewood church and fraternity brothers.
 
Jelisa hopes to attend graduate school for communications, and Rodney will use his doctorate to walk alongside his congregation and build enduring connections. He plans to help others develop public-speaking skills while contributing to his church’s legacy project.
 
“It’s part of our vision,” he explained. “The doctorate program taught me to be mindful of how people hear you and how the audience can make meaning. We want to remember our history and tell stories about people and the values they embodied.”