Ellmer College of Health Sciences

The Ellmer College of Health Sciences is one of the colleges at Old Dominion University (ODU). Most of the classrooms and department offices, including the dean’s office, are located in it’s building at the corner of 41st Street and Killam Avenue. Prior to 2024, the college was located in the old Technology Building. The college is the newest college at ODU and is made up of the School of Community and Environmental Health, the School of Dental Hygiene, the School of Medical Diagnostic and Translational Sciences, and the School of Rehabilitation Sciences.
History
From 1975 to 1986, classes related to health and medicine were a part of the School of Sciences and Health Professions. In 1986, in a reorganization of the university, the school split into the College of Sciences and the College of Health Sciences. In 2018, as a result of the growth of the program and to broaden the reach of its services, the School of Nursing moved to the ODU Virginia Beach Center. In 2021, construction on a new Health Sciences Building at the corner of Killam Avenue and 41st Street began, and was completed during the Spring 2024 semester. The building was dedicated as the Ellmer College of Health Sciences on August 29, 2024. In 2023, the School of Nursing, which was under the College of Health Sciences, became an independent school and is located in the ODU Virginia Beach Center. In June 2024, in honor of a $20 million gift by Dennis and Jan Ellmer, the college was renamed the Ellmer College of Health Sciences. As of July 1, 2024, with the merger of ODU and Eastern State Medical School (EVMS), the College of Health Sciences reports to the Executive Vice President for Health Sciences.

Deans
1986-2000: Lindsay L. Rettie
2000-2004: Cheryl T. Samuels
2004-2010: E. Andrew Balas
2010-2011: Deanne Shuman
2011-2016: Shelley C. Mishoe
2017-2018: Richardean Benjamin, Interim Dean
2018-present: Bonnie Van Lunen
Resources
- Old Dominion University Photographic and Multimedia Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Perry Library, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, 23529.
- ODU Photographic Collection, Old Dominion University Libraries Digital Collections, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- School of Sciences and Health Professions Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Perry Library, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, 23529.
References
- Bookman, Steven and Jessica Ritchie. Old Dominion University: A Campus History Series. Arcadia Publishing. Charleston, South Carolina, 2017.
- Old Dominion University Catalogs, Special Collections and University Archives, Perry Library, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, 23529.