Edward Gwathmey became the second director of the Norfolk Division of the College of William & Mary in September 1932 after the resignation of H. Edgar Timmerman. Gwathmey was an English professor at William & Mary. His tenure as director of the division was brief as he resigned in December 1932 to become president of… read more »
Charles Duke served as the fourth director of the Norfolk Division of the College of William & Mary, from 1941 to 1946, after the resignation of William T. Hodges. A Norfolk native and graduate of William & Mary in 1923, Duke served as the bursar at the Williamsburg campus while serving as director in Norfolk…. read more »
Brian O. Hemphill, Ph.D., president of Radford University, succeeded John R. Broderick as the ninth president of Old Dominion University (ODU) on July 1, 2021. Prior to serving as president of Radford University, Dr. Hemphill served as President of West Virginia University, Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at Northern Illinois University, and… read more »
The Safe Space Committee at Old Dominion University (ODU) works with students, faculty, and staff to provide training to encourage an environment free from homophobia, transphobia, and heterosexism. History Working closely with the Office of Intercultural Relations and the ODU Sexuality and Gender Alliance (ODU SAGA), the LGBTQ+ student organization, the Safe Space was established… read more »
Dorothy M. Doumar served as the first female Rector of the Old Dominion University (ODU) Board of Visitors from 1978 to 1982. History In 1972, Dorothy M. Doumar was appointed to the ODU Board of Visitors and served until 1983, including four years as Rector. As a member of the Board of Visitors, Doumar took… read more »
To help with eliminating duplication of programs between Old Dominion University (ODU) and Norfolk State College, the federal government suggested the merger of the two institutions in 1978. History During segregation in Norfolk, African American students were sent to Norfolk Division of Virginia State College, now Norfolk State University, to complete their undergraduate education. After… read more »
The Women’s Caucus is a faculty and staff organization that aims to advance the welfare of women at Old Dominion University (ODU). History The Women’s Caucus was established in 1974 by Carolyn Rhodes, a professor in the Department of English, and Dorothy Johnson, a professor in the Department of History. The organization focuses on obtaining… read more »
Dr. Milton Reid, a Norfolk preacher, served as the first known African American member of the Board of Visitors at Old Dominion University (ODU). ODU and Personal Accomplishments Dr. Milton Reid, a Norfolk preacher, civil rights activist, and newspaper publisher, served as the first African American member of the ODU Board of Visitors from 1970… read more »
During the 1950s and 1960s, the Norfolk Division of the College of William & Mary denied admission to African American undergraduate students to comply with the Virginia laws of segregation. History During World War II, there were several instances of African American Naval officers taking classes offered by the Norfolk Division at Naval Station Norfolk…. read more »
Old Dominion College was the was the official name of Old Dominion University (ODU) from 1962 to 1969. History When the Norfolk Division of the College of William & Mary became independent in July 1962, one of the first orders of business for the Board of Visitors was to come up with a new name… read more »