On May 6, Roderick, son, and Yolanda, mother, Hubbard proudly walked together across the stage at Albany State University after completing their respective graduate programs.
The mother-son duo now have additional degrees to add to their already impressive academic achievements, the Albany Herald reported, and now both Roderick and Yolanda have earned their degrees from the HBCU.
Roderick earned his third degree from ASU, with the son earning a bachelor’s in middle grades education in 2014 and a master’s in educational leadership in 2021. Roderick is now a graduate with the highest degree offered by the university, the educational specialist degree in educational leadership.
Yolanda earned a bachelor’s degree in allied health sciences in 2011, but now mom has earned her master’s degree in public administration with a concentration in human resources.
“This was an opportunity for us to celebrate our achievements together and reflect on the hard work and dedication that led us to that moment,” Roderick told the Albany Herald. “I do believe I’m prouder of my mom than I am of myself.”
The newspaper reported that Yolanda dedicated her degrees to her grandchildren, saying she wanted to set a good example for them.
“After graduation, my grandchildren ran up to us, and said, ‘You graduated!’” Yolanda said. “This degree is all about them for me. When school and life get hard, I can always remind them that GiGi did it much older, so they can do it, too.”
The Hubbard family has strong ties to ASU, with several relatives having graduated from the institution, including Roderick’s grandmother, former Albany Mayor Dorothy Hubbard, as well as his wife, brother, sister-in-law, uncle and cousins.
“Albany State University is the best HBCU there is,” Roderick said. “We must support ASU in every way, not only at homecoming. Our dear school is truly a union of work and inspiration.”
