Father and Daughter Graduate Together
When the Bodily family moved from Nashville to Pulaski years ago, they never imagined that decision would lead to a once-in-a-lifetime milestone: a father and daughter graduating from college side by side.
This spring, Isabela Bodily will earn her bachelor’s degree in elementary education, while her father, John Clayton “Clay” Bodily, will complete his Master of Business Administration. They will walk the same stage at University of Tennessee Southern, celebrating not only academic achievements but also a shared journey that strengthened their family bond.
For Isabela, attending UT Southern, formerly known to many as Martin Methodist College, felt like a natural choice. After living in the area since high school, she was already familiar with the campus. Practical considerations played a role, too: staying close to home offered more affordable tuition and the value of a University of Tennessee degree without leaving her community. Ultimately, a campus tour sealed her decision. She remembers being drawn to the campus’ beauty, describing it as easy to navigate and filled with “charming older buildings.”
Now in her final semester, Isabela is student-teaching and considering job offers from across the country, including positions in Pennsylvania, Arkansas, Georgia, Oregon, New York and Tennessee. Many of these opportunities have come through Handshake, a tool supported by the university’s career services office to connect students with employers nationwide.
While she’s open to where her career leads, Isabela already knows the kind of educator she wants to be. Science is her favorite subject, and she hopes to inspire curiosity in her future students—especially when it comes to the natural world. Her goal, she said, is to teach children to “not be afraid of bugs.”
But academics weren’t the only thing that made her college experience meaningful. Sharing it with her dad made it unforgettable.
“I love telling people I go to school with my dad!” Isabela said. “I tell everyone I can, ‘I get to graduate with my dad!’”
Clay’s path to UT Southern came later, but with purpose. He enrolled in spring 2024 while exploring ways to advance his career. At first, he considered pursuing a master’s degree in engineering, but a conversation with the university’s registrar’s office opened another door. He learned he qualified for the MBA program and could enter directly by completing a few prerequisite courses.
That guidance set him on a new course—one that would ultimately align with his daughter’s academic timeline.
For Clay, what stands out most about his experience at UT Southern isn’t just the coursework, but the people.
“The compassion and the care,” he said, reflecting on his time in the program.
He recalls a particularly meaningful moment during a family emergency when his instructors and the program director reached out after noticing a change in his performance. Their support, he said, exemplifies the university’s commitment to its students.
The Bodily family’s connection to campus doesn’t stop there. Isabela’s younger sister, Marie Bodily, is also a UT Southern student, studying management and playing softball. Together, the three have created a unique collegiate experience, often meeting for study sessions in the library or around town.
Some of their favorite moments are the simplest: sharing a table covered in books and notes, or unexpectedly running into each other on campus. These everyday moments turned their time at UT Southern into something far more meaningful than a traditional college experience.
As graduation approaches, the Bodilys are preparing to celebrate not just individual accomplishments, but a collective one. Crossing the stage together will symbolize years of hard work, perseverance and mutual support.
For Isabela and Clay, earning their degrees at the same time is more than a coincidence, it’s a reflection of their dedication to growth, both personally and as a family. And as they look ahead to what comes next, they’ll carry with them not only their diplomas, but also the rare and special experience of achieving this milestone together.
