Campus Happenings

Meet Tampa CP Rod Kirkwood

Concorde Staff

Concorde Staff

Share:
Updated June 23, 2016. The information contained in this blog is current and accurate as of this date.
health care careers

We had so much fun profiling Miramar Campus President Ginny Carpenter in our "Meet Your Campus Presidents" series last week that we decided to stay in the Sunshine State for this week's offering.

Today, we're traveling across the state and about 260 miles up Interstate 75 to beautiful Tampa, where Rod Kirkwood presides over Concorde's campus. Our Tampa campus offers seven health care career programs, and Kirkwood ensures that all run smoothly and carry the high-quality, real-world education and training to which Concorde aspires on a daily basis.

Today, we're going to learn about Kirkwood's journey to becoming Campus President (CP) at Concorde - Tampa - a journey that started on the other side of the U.S. - his love of zombies and a 10-day European bus tour where he and his wife got a little more than they bargained for.

Let's meet Rod Kirkwood.

What's been your journey to becoming a Concorde CP?

After graduation from the University of Oregon with my bachelor of science in accounting, I was hired by a small tech college in Portland, Ore. as a financial aid advisor. After a few short months, I found myself in charge of the Finance Department and the Business Office. In 1996, I left Oregon and moved to Florida as a Director of Financial Aid at Florida Metropolitan University. During that time, I obtained my master's degree in adult education from the University of South Florida. In 2013, I decided that I really wanted to be part of an organization that specialized in Allied Health. This is when I came to be President of Concorde Career Institute - Tampa.

What's the best part of being a Campus President?

Knowing that I have a part in helping adults make a better life for themselves and their families.

From your perspective, what is it that makes the Tampa campus stand out, makes it special?

The staff at the Tampa campus is what makes the campus special. It may be cliche to say that they really care about each other and seeing our students graduate, but it's true. We have a very experienced leadership team at Tampa that seems to go together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. Each member seems to complement each other's skills and blend well with each other.

What's the best piece of advice you ever were given?

I have picked up quite a bit of advice through the years. One, "you need to assume innocence" when working with others. This has helped me not to rush to judgment or conclusions, but instead ask open-ended questions like "help me understand why XY and Z." One of my former supervisors used to always tell me, "Don't sweat the small stuff."

What's a favorite TV show, recent movie you've seen or book you've read?

My wife and I make it a Sunday evening ritual to turn up the lights and watch the Walking Dead together. I'm reading a book right now called "Mind Readers."

What is a hidden talent, favorite hobby or little-known fact people don't know about you?

When my wife graduated from college with her master's, as a celebration we went on a 10-day bus tour of Europe. What made it very memorable was that we were on the top end of the age category (35) while the closest other occupants of the bus were freshmen to seniors in college (18-22). It was quite the party bus. However, I've never been so tired in my life!

Take The Next Step Towards a Brighter Future

We have a Concorde representative ready to talk about what matters most to you. Get answers about start dates, curriculum, financial aid, scholarships and more!

  1. Program length may be subject to change dependent on transfer credits and course load. Please refer to current course catalog for more information. Concorde does not guarantee admittance, graduation, subsequent employment or salary amount.

  2. Professional certification is not a requirement for graduation, may not be a requirement for employment nor does it guarantee employment.

  3. Financial aid is available to those who qualify but may not be available for all programs. Concorde does not guarantee financial aid or scholarship awards or amounts.

  4. Clinical hour requirements and delivery may vary by campus location and may be subject to change. Concorde does not guarantee clinical site assignments based upon student preference or geographic convenience; nor do clinical experiences guarantee graduation, post-clinical employment or salary outcomes.

  5. Registration and certification requirements for taking and passing these examinations are not controlled by Concorde, but by outside agencies, and are subject to change by the agency without notice. Therefore, Concorde cannot guarantee that graduates will be eligible to take these exams, at all or at any specific time, regardless of their eligibility status upon enrollment.

  6. Externships are a non-paid in-person learning experience, whose length and location may be subject to change. Concorde does not guarantee externship placement, graduation, post-externship employment or salary outcomes.