Dr. Rodney Darryl Lipscomb

Rod D. Lipscomb, 55, of Collierville, TN, passed away on October 23, 2025, at East Baptist Memorial Hospital. He was born on August 22, 1970, in Washington, DC, to Racheau Lipscomb, Sr., and the late Rowena (Lewis) Johnson.

Rod earned his Bachelor of Science from Virginia Tech in 1993, followed by a master's degree from Florida State University in 1995. He went on to pursue doctoral studies in Higher Education Administration at FSU.

Rod was a passionate administrator, educator, and champion for students' rights across campuses throughout the country. Before his prolific career in higher education, he was a legislative liaison in Washington, D.C., and got to make two reports before Congress. One of his biggest highlights was taking the late President George W. H. Bush on a bass fishing trip in Texas. He said, “he was the most normal, down-to-earth, and funny guy.”

During his doctoral work, Rod served as assistant to the president at Florida State University from 1999 to 2003. After finishing his coursework, he became campus dean at the New York Institute of Technology, a role he held for three years. In 2006-2007, he worked as a doctoral fellow with the State University System of Florida. From 2007 to 2010, he directed Campus Life and served as chief judicial officer at Tallahassee Community College.

From 2011 to 2015, he served as the Dean of Academic Affairs at ITT Tech, where his commitment as a scholar, citizen, and whistleblower played a crucial role in shutting down the institution's fraudulent operations.

Rod later held senior administrative positions at North Central Texas College (2015-2017), Walla Walla Community College (2017-2019), Kankakee Community College (2019-2021), and Dallas College (2021-2025). In August 2025, he became the Director of Student Success at Southwest Tennessee Community College.

Rod dedicated time to several causes as a member of the American Cancer Society, United Way, and Big Brothers. He was also an avid fisherman, hunter, and oil painter specializing in landscapes and seascapes. He enjoyed laughing out loud, expanding his vast knowledge, and spending time with loved ones.

He will be remembered for his generous spirit, unwavering kindness, and the joy he brought to all who knew him. Rod lived a life defined by compassion and hard work. He was known for his warm smile, his willingness to help others, and his ability to find light even in difficult times. Throughout his life, Rod touched countless hearts—whether through his professional work, his service to others, or the simple kindness of his everyday actions. He had a gift for making people feel seen and valued, and his legacy of love will live on in the lives of those he leaves behind.

Rod is survived by his father, Ray Lipscomb, Sr., brother Ray Lipscomb, Jr. (wife Sabrina), sister Rhonda Lipscomb, niece Eshon Hawkins, nephew Ray Lipscomb, III, great niece Amora Lipscomb, and his closest extended family, Jose and Jill da Silva, and their sons, Tiago, Mateo, and Leo.

A celebration of Rod’s life will be held at a later date, where friends and loved ones will gather to honor his memory and share stories of a life well-lived.

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