Driven by Curiosity: Rody Davis’ (’17) Path from FC to Google
September 16, 2026 | 2 min read
Long before he joined Google, Rody Davis (‘17) was finding ways to turn his curiosity into action. From an early age, Davis was fascinated by science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Growing up in Alabama, he frequently encountered people who had worked on the Apollo program, fueling an interest in innovation that would ultimately help shape his career. By high school, he was exploring audio engineering while developing a growing appreciation for electrical engineering and physics.
During the summers, Davis’ family volunteered at FC Labor Camp, a week dedicated to fellowship, service and campus improvement projects. Through those experiences, he formed relationships with Florida College faculty and staff that eventually led to a scholarship and the opportunity to serve as the college’s Productions Manager. Davis held the position throughout his time at Florida College, managing student employees, maintaining campus technology systems and supporting livestreams viewed by audiences across the country. Alongside those responsibilities, he studied business administration with a specialization in management information systems, becoming one of the first three graduates to earn the degree.
Looking back, Davis credits those experiences with helping prepare him for the career he has today.
“Working closely with leadership at FC was probably the biggest advantage that I had,” he said. “From my freshman year, I had a lot of responsibility on my plate and had to learn quickly how to manage my time.”
Driven by a desire to keep learning, Davis pursued industry certifications, taught himself software development and began creating tools to solve practical problems he encountered. As his skills grew, his curiosity and initiative opened doors to new opportunities, eventually leading him to Google in 2020.
Today, Davis works at Google as a Senior Developer Relations Engineer and recently joined Google DeepMind, the company’s artificial intelligence research laboratory. His role combines technical expertise with strong communication skills as he works with engineers, product teams, marketers and developers across the organization. He also travels regularly to conferences and industry events, where he helps introduce new products, explains complex technical concepts and serves as a bridge between the teams building the technology and the people using it.
Among his accomplishments, Davis received a Google AI patent and has contributed to nearly every major AI product launch at Google over the past several years. Through each achievement and every stage of his career, one principle has remained constant: never stop learning.
“I always wanted to ask questions,” he said. “If I ever got to a place where I wasn’t curious or passionate, I looked for a way to change what I was working on or find a different way to be driven intellectually.”
For students considering careers in technology, Davis encourages them to develop a genuine desire to learn. The curiosity that first led him to explore STEM continues to drive his work today. For Davis, a willingness to keep asking questions, seek new challenges and pursue knowledge has been key to the opportunities that have followed.