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 »
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 »
William T. Hodges, former Dean of Men at William & Mary, came to the Norfolk Division of William & Mary in 1933 to serve as Director after the four-month tenure of Edward Gwathmey. In 1941, William & Mary President John Stewart Bryan asked for the resignation of Hodges due to a scandal regarding fixing grades… read more »
The Norfolk Division of the College of William and Mary and Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI) was the name of Old Dominion University (ODU) from 1931 until 1960. During this time, students could take their first two years of coursework at the Norfolk Division and then transfer to VPI, now Virginia Tech, for their final two… read more »
A. Rufus Tonelson was a student, teacher, administrator, and benefactor of Old Dominion University (ODU). Tonelson was among the first three students to register for courses at the Norfolk Division of the College of William & Mary in the fall of 1930. A start athlete in baseball and basketball, Tonelson was a member of the… read more »