Rod recently graduated with a Bachelor of Music from the University of South Florida. During his time at USF, Rod studied Jazz Percussion with Richard Craig, and classical percussion with Robert McCormick. As a drummer, Rod was a member of Jazz Ensemble 1, the premiere Big Band under the direction of multi-time Grammy nominated artist Chuck Owen, he was also a member of Jazztet, the premier small group in the USF Jazz Studies program, as well as Bone Band 1, the top trombone ensemble.

During his time in Jazztet and Bone Band 1, Rod performed in French Jazz Festivals and venues in Paris, Lyon, and Vienne on a two week festival tour during Summer 2019, as well in Colombia for a week-long concert tour of northern Colombia and for musical collaborations and performances at UniNorte in Barranquilla as part of the Catedral Global, an International Conference in August 2018.

As a classical percussionist, Rod performed with the USF Wind Ensemble, USF Symphonic Band, and the McCormick Percussion Group, with whom he recorded two projects. Rod is now a freelance musician and private teacher in the Tampa area. He has been teaching for about three years and plays weekly at Christian Assembly Church as part of the Worship Team. He has interests in many different styles of music, including Popular dance music, World Music styles, and Afro- Caribbean Music, with a special interest in music from Haiti, where he grew up. These different styles of music influence his own performance style and compositions and arrangements.