Family Business

On a quiet evening in Rose Library two students sit across from each other with their laptops open. One student manages to write six pages of a paper in an hour, while the other student carefully and deliberately reads only three pages of their assigned text. To the average passerby, this isn’t an unusual spectacle, but what makes the moment striking is that the faster writer is a College of Business undergraduate and the slower reader is his father. 

“It runs in the family” isn’t just a fun JMU saying—it’s truly a lived adventure. A handful of families are experiencing a rare overlap: parent and child enrolled as students at the same time. For the Hughes and Fox families, the parallel journeys of pursuing an MBA and an undergraduate degree have brought moments of humor, pride and a deeper sense of connection.

The Hughes Family

John Hughes (‘97) had always wanted to return to JMU for his MBA. The first in his family to attend college, he graduated from JMU as a Computer Information Systems major and began his career and then a family in Northern Virginia. But, continuing his education remained on hold. 

“For me, it was about personal achievement,” John said. “I loved the idea of lifelong learning, but it's hard to stop your career and your parenting to make that time. I was delayed, but 27 years later isn’t too bad.”

Now in the MBA Innovation concentration, John is relishing the return to campus. He chose this track for its flexibility and the chance to immerse himself in electives that match his interests. But beyond academics, John has a renewed appreciation for higher education, especially as he watches his son, David, go through his undergraduate years. “David’s already doing ten times better than I was as an undergrad and really living the full experience. My parents didn’t prep me, so I just slid by.”

David Hughes, a junior Finance and Accounting major, says running into his dad on campus has become routine. “I’ve seen him in D-Hall, Rose Library, even driving down Port Republic,” David explains. “It’s kind of funny. My twin brother at Virginia Tech would be horrified to run into Dad at school. But for me, it’s cool.”

For John, those unexpected encounters have become highlights of his time here. “Some of my favorite memories of this time are seeing David on campus,” says John. “It’s nice to catch him in Hartman Hall—just those random appearances. David actually shows excitement and happiness to see me, and as a parent, that's just phenomenal. It's such a great, warm feeling I'll never forget.”

The father-and-sons’ overlap has been a source of inspiration and humor for both. “The number one thing that stands out about my dad in student mode is that he does way too much work,” David says. “He’s always pushing for more pages, more words. It inspires me to push harder, but I also poke fun at him for it.”

David also admits he’s been impressed by how quickly his dad slipped back into student life. “I wasn’t sure how quickly he’d adjust after being in the working world for so long, but he nailed it right away—good grades, strong relationships with professors. It showed me you can succeed in a totally new phase if you commit.”

While the two don’t exchange tips on class content, they often lean on one another for advice about navigating school. “When it comes to things like connecting with professors, handling group projects or applying what you learn to internships, we talk a lot,” David says. “Having him understand what I’m going through makes it easier to ask for advice.”

For John, the joy is in seeing his son thrive in ways he didn’t as an undergraduate. “He’s fully involved, he’s tutoring, he’s giving back. To witness that, and for him to let me be part of it, is really meaningful.”

The Fox Family

When Jodi Fox enrolled in JMU’s MBA program, the timing couldn’t have been more meaningful. The very weekend she began her first class, her daughter, Adara, was moving into her residence hall to begin her own undergraduate journey.

“Adara moved in on Saturday while I was starting my MBA class,” Jodi recalls. “Her dad did the heavy lifting, and I got the fun part—seeing her room once it was all set up.”

Jodi had already built a long career in education, with more than 20 years in K–8 schools, before launching her own ed-tech company and later joining JMU as program manager for the Gilliam Center for Entrepreneurship. But returning as a student was both a professional and personal decision. “I wanted to step outside of my comfort zone,” she says. “I tell my own kids and the students at JMU that getting out of your comfort zone is something that we should all do. I think it makes us better people.”

Adara, an International Business major, said watching her mom step confidently into student life gave her courage. “When she’s in student mode, she always looks like she’s having fun,” Adara says. “She’s so engaged with her classmates and excels at connecting with people. After seeing her in her online classes over the summer, I’m now trying to make more friends and sit next to new people. Having connections with your classmates is really helpful.”

Being students at the same time has even brought moments of collaboration for the pair. Having taken microeconomics the previous year, Adara was well positioned to help her mom as she tackled the same subject in her MBA coursework. “That was one of my favorite classes freshman year,” Adara says. “I gave her advice on some of the readings and topics.”

Their shared student experience has led to more than just study tips. Now they are exploring ways in which they can work together on a shared project. “There’s a competition for MBA students that I discovered last year,” Jodi says. “You have to have two co-founders at the college so… It’s been a conversation at home about if we’re going to start something this year together.”

Adara, who’s long been drawn to storytelling and creative projects, sees business as a way to explore those passions. “We wouldn’t just be mother and daughter,” she says. “I’d be interested in doing something in business with her as my partner.”

For Jodi, the idea of collaborating with her daughter is both exciting and affirming. “She has so many strengths that I don’t. It’s made me see her not just as my daughter, but as someone I could build something with.”

Common Threads

Though the Hughes and Fox families have their own rhythms, parallels run deep. Both find themselves comparing notes on classes and swapping advice. Both describe their relationships as strengthened by these shared experiences.

For the children, seeing a parent take on the role of student adds a new layer of respect. For the parents, walking the same academic path opens their eyes to their child’s daily challenges. And for both, the accidental encounters on campus or the late-night study sessions become memories to carry long after graduation.

Asked what they’ll remember most, the answers are as heartfelt as they are lighthearted. John laughs about planning to attend his son’s office hours for accounting help. Adara smiles at the idea of her mom using Gen Z slang like “low key” and then checking if she said it right.

In classrooms and libraries, at dining halls and football games, these families are writing parallel chapters in a shared book. And years from now, both parents and children will look back on this unusual season with the same conclusion: it was an education in more ways than one.

Missing your Duke? Family Weekend is September 26-28 and is guaranteed to be packed with activities, events, games and so much more. We’d love to see you on campus, but your Duke will even more.