Serving on the front lines, learning in the classroom: A fire captain’s 20-year path to a degree at UHCL (opens in new tab)

After 20 years in fire and emergency medical services, William Godfrey is proving that education has no expiration date and that reinvention can happen at any stage of a career. On May 9, 2026, Godfrey will graduate from the University of Houston-Clear Lake with a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration, walking the stage at NRG Arena after more than a decade with the City of Pearland.For Godfrey, the degree is not a pivot away from public service, but a deeper step into it.A career buil...