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Roseann Runte

Introduction of Roseann Runte as President, 2001

Roseann Runte, Ph.D., president of Victoria University in Toronto, Canada, became Old Dominion University’s (ODU) seventh and first female president following the retirement of James V. Koch in 2001. After several attempts had failed over the years, President Runte led a successful campaign to revive the football program after a more than 60-year absence. Dr. Runte supported undergraduate and graduate programs and raised the profile of Old Dominion as a prominent research university. In January 2008, Runte resigned to become president of Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. Dr. Runte received her Bachelor of Arts degree from SUNY New Paltz and her Master of Arts and Ph.D. from the University of Kansas.

Accomplishments During Tenure, 2001-2008

Among her noteworthy achievements, President Runte excelled at fundraising and putting the needs of the students first. Runte developed the Quad, which consists of six residence halls and the Student Recreation & Well-Being Center, to make Old Dominion more of a residential campus. For these efforts, the Roseann Runte Quad  is named in her honor. She built a strong relationship with the students and taught at least one class a year. Runte also successfully completed a $100-million campaign and worked with legislators for more funding.

Throughout her career at Old Dominion, Dr. Runte supported and strengthened academics. The Frank Reidy Research Center for Bioelectrics and Virginia Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center (VMASC) were established. Undergraduate and graduate programs were developed and supported, the research portfolio of the university increased, and a required course to teach students about the global environment was introduced.

Resources

  1. Office of the President. Roseann Runte Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Patricia W. and J. Douglas Perry Library, Old Dominion University Libraries, Norfolk, VA 23529.
  2. Old Dominion University Photographic and Multimedia Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Patricia W. and J. Douglas Perry Library, Old Dominion University Libraries, Norfolk, VA 23529.
  3. University Presidents, Old Dominion University Libraries Digital Exhibit, 2009

References

  1. Bookman, Steven and Jessica Ritchie. Old Dominion University: A Campus History Series.  Arcadia Publishing. Charleston, South Carolina, 2017.

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