He grew up in Glace Bay, Cape Breton, NS, and obtained his BSc (Biology) from Cape Breton University and his MSc (Molecular Pathology) from Dalhousie University. He was hired at Cape Breton University in 2003 to teach MSIT courses in the Integrative Science academic program and has, over the years, taught all core courses. Rod is a member of the Department of Biology and also the Indigenous Studies Department of the Unama’ki College. He is currently enrolled in a PhD program with his research focusing on the MSX (Multinucleated Spheroid X) oyster parasite that was found in 2003 in the Bras d’Or Lakes in Cape Breton. Before coming to Cape Breton University, Rod worked for Dalhousie University, Health Canada, and the RCMP Forensic Laboratory Service.