{"id":87,"date":"2016-09-08T17:06:22","date_gmt":"2016-09-08T17:06:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/oduwiki\/?p=87"},"modified":"2026-01-13T10:19:22","modified_gmt":"2026-01-13T15:19:22","slug":"87","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/oduwiki\/2016\/09\/08\/87\/","title":{"rendered":"Commencement"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"Bachelor<\/a>
Bachelor of Arts Recipients, 1959<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

There have been Commencement<\/strong> exercises at Old Dominion University (ODU)<\/strong> since 1945, when the institution was known as the Norfolk Division of the College of William & Mary. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

History<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Students would complete their first two years of study at the Norfolk Division and then transfer to either the Williamsburg campus of the College of William & Mary or Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI) in Blacksburg, though it was not uncommon for Norfolk Division students to attend other universities throughout the country as well. The official recognition of students successfully completing the Norfolk Division\u2019s course of study did not occur until May 1943, when for the first time completion certificates were presented to eligible students during final convocation exercises that marked the end of the academic year. College convocations, while not directly associated with commencement, were mandatory assemblies of the student body conducted at the university in which special programs or speakers were presented with the intention of enhancing the academic experience and fostering a sense of community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first formal commencement exercises conducted by the Norfolk Division took place in June 1945 at the new Larchmont School Auditorium where seventeen students were awarded Associate of Arts degrees. By 1956, the Norfolk Division awarded its first four year baccalaureate diplomas to fifteen eligible students. In June 1966, the first master’s degrees were awarded, where Margaret Simmons<\/strong><\/a> became the first African American student to receive a degree from Old Dominion. Ronald Horne<\/strong><\/a> became the first African American to receive an undergraduate degree from Old Dominion in 1969. The first winter Commencement took place in December 1985. From 1985 to 1990, another ceremony was added in August but it became too hectic to perform three ceremonies each year. Over time, students completing their studies in August would eventually join the winter graduates during the December ceremony. Commencement exercises between 1945 and 2002 have taken place in various locations throughout the city of Norfolk, both on campus and off, such as the old Norfolk Arena, Foreman Field, and Norfolk Scope. Starting in December 2002, commencement exercises began to be conducted on campus at the Ted Constant Convocation Center. Due to the Covid-19 global pandemic, there were no Commencement ceremonies held in 2020. The 2020 graduates took part in the May 2021 in-person ceremonies at S. B. Ballard Stadium. Starting in May 2023, the spring undergraduate ceremony has taken place at S.B. Ballard Stadium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Traditions<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Walk Across Campus<\/h5>\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/a>
University Seal on Kaufman Mall, 1999<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

During the Commencement exercises, students walk from Webb University Center<\/strong><\/a>, along Kaufman Mall<\/strong><\/a>, and down Hampton Boulevard dressed in academic regalia towards the ceremony in the Ted Constant Convocation Center<\/strong><\/a>. All graduating seniors are allowed to step on the University Seal<\/strong><\/a> on the mall as new alumni of the university; only alumni are allowed to step on the seal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

University Mace<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

The University Mace is carried during the Commencement ceremony by the University Marshal to lead the academic processional and recessional, and is displayed on the platform during the ceremony. The mace was commissioned by the university for the inauguration of Joseph M. Marchello<\/strong><\/a> as the fourth president in 1985. It was designed by William Wagner and was created by Dianne DeBeixedon, both professors of art at ODU, and features a silver head with a three-dimensional evolution of the elliptically-shaped University Medallion. The shaft was crafted from Brazilian rosewood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

University Medallion<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

The University Medallion is worn by the President of Old Dominion University. The original medal was authorized by the Board of Visitors<\/a><\/strong> in 1976 and first worn by Alfred B. Rollins, Jr.<\/a><\/strong> at his inauguration as the third president. Designed by Donald A. Borja, class of 1969, the medallion represents the continuance of higher education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Commencement Speakers<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

1940-1949<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

1945: June – Robert C. McClelland, Faculty, College of William & Mary in Norfolk, Virginia<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1947: June – Rear Admiral W.L. Ainsworth Commandant Fifth Naval District<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1948: June – Sharvey G. Umback, Dean of the College of William & Mary<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1949: June – Dr. Walter S. Newman, President, Virginia Polytechnic Institute<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1950-1959<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

1950: June – Dr. Walter T. McFall, Professor of Dentistry, Emory University<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1951: June – Dr. Raymond B. Pinchbeck, Dean, University of Richmond<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1952: June – Mr. Alvin Duke Chandler, President, College of William & Mary<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1953: June – Porter Hardy, Jr. U.S. House of Representatives, Norfolk, Virginia<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1954: June – Colgate W. Darden, Norfolk, Virginia<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1955: June – Mr. H. Edgar Timmerman. First Director of Norfolk Division; October – George J. Oliver, Head, William & Mary Department of Education<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1956: June – A.E.S. Stephens, Lieutenant Governor, Commonwealth of Virginia; October – Charles F. Marsh, Charter member of faculty, College of William & Mary in Norfolk, first economics professor<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1957: June – W. Carson Ryan, Kenan Professor of Education, Emeritus, University of North Carolina<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1958: June – Paul H. Farrier, Executive Secretary State Council of Higher Education<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1959: June – Robert B. House University of North Carolina<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1960-1969<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

1960: June – Frank. P. Graham, President, University of North Carolina<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1961: June – Dr. Fred C. Cole. President, Washington and Lee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1962: June – John F. Chapman, Associate Editor, Harvard Business Review<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1963: June – Dr. Willis M. Tate, President, Southern Methodist University<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1964: June – Charles F. Marsh, President, Wofford College<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1965: June – Dr. Harmon H. Bro, Director of the Institute of the Study of Adult Psychology, Evanston, Illinois<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1966: June – Dr. Frederick C. Barghoorn, Chairman, Council on Russian and East European Studies, Yale University<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1967: June – John T. Caldwell, Chancellor, North Carolina State University<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1968: June – Dr. Noah Langdale Jr., President, Georgia State College<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1969: June – Colgate W. Darden, President Emeritus, University of Virginia; August – James L. Bugg, ODU President<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1970-1979<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

1970: June – Linwood Holton, Governor of Virginia<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1971: June – William B. Spong Jr., United States Senator from Virginia<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1972: June -Joseph P. Cosand, United States Office of Education, Deputy Commissioner for Higher Education<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1973: June – Mr. Frank Batten, Publisher of The Virginian-Pilot<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1974: May – Dr. Lewis W. Webb, President Emeritus ODU<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1975: May – Mills E. Godwin, Governor of Virginia<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1976: May – Thomas A. Graves Jr., President, College of William & Mary<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1977: May – Nicholas von Hoffman, Columnist, Washington Post<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1978: May – John N. Dalton, Governor of Virginia<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1979: May – Gordon K. Davies, Director, State Council of Higher Education for Virginia<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1980-1989<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

1980: May – Dorothy Doumar, Board of Visitors; Gordon McDougall, President of the Student Body; Alfred B. Rollins Jr., President of ODU<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1981: May – Dorothy Doumar, Board of Visitors; Rickey Adams, President of the Student Body; Alfred B. Rollins Jr., President of ODU<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1982: May – Alfred B. Rollins President ODU, Dorothy Doumar, Board of Visitors, Keith Curtis, President Student Body<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1983: May – John T. Casteen III, Secretary of Education, Virginia; December: Wasn’t an official Commencement but termed \u201cStudent Recognition Day. ” Dr. Robert Ash, Acting Dean, School of Engineering was the speaker<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1984: May – Charles S. Robb, Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1985: May – Alfred B. Rollins, Jr., President of Old Dominion University; August – Wasn’t an official Commencement but termed \u201cStudent Recognition Day. ” Richard T. Adams, class of 1981 was the speaker; December – G. William Whitehurst, 2nd Virginia District, U.S. Congress<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1986: May – Howard W. Jones, Jr, Eastern Virginia Medical School.; August – Israel Taback, NASA (1st official summer Commencement); December – Dr. Jean Bernard Gazarian, UN General Assembly<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1987: May: Thomas P. Newsom, Tonight Show saxophone player; August: Owen B. Pickett, U.S. Congressman; December: Grace Brewster Murray Hopper, Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy (Retired)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1988: May – Robert Osborne Reid, former Head of Oceanography at Texas A&M; August: Mary Blackburn Walsh, Nursing Educator; December: Gene R. Carter, Superintendent of Norfolk Public Schools<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1989: May – No special speaker. Just remarks from the honorary degree recipient, Edwin W. Chittum, former Superintendent of Chesapeake Public Schools; August: William B. Spong, Interim President of ODU, Brenda T. Williams, Douglas Tudor; December: No special speaker. Just remarks from the honorary degree recipient, Stephen J. Wright<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1990-1999<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

1990: May – No special speaker. Just remarks from the honorary degree recipient, Lewis F. Powell, Jr., Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court (Retired); August: No speaker; December: Edwin Newman, Journalist<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1991: May – James Koch, President of ODU; December: Joseph J. Sisco, U. S. Diplomat<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1992: May – Mary Sue Terry, Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Virginia; December: Admiral David E. Jeremiah, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1993: May – Leah Sears-Collins, Georgia Supreme Court Justice; December – Owen B. Pickett  2nd<\/sup> Congressional District<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1994: May – Donald S. Beyer Jr., Lieutenant Governor of Virginia; December – Gerald L. Baliles, former Governor of Virginia<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1995: May – John J. Sheehan, General U.S. Marine Corps Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Command; December – Beth E. Polson, Executive Producer Polson Company<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1996: May – Samuel D. Proctor, American Civil Rights Figure; December – Joanna Lau, President of LAU Technologies<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1997: May – Normon Sisisky, Fourth District, Virginia, Congress; December – Willie E. Gary, Esquire, Hoffler and Associates<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1998: May – Bill Cosby, Comedian; December – Morton Dean, ABC News National Correspondent<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1999: May – Sam Donaldson, Reporter, White House Correspondent; December – Admiral Harold W. Gehman, Jr. Commander in Chief Joint Forces Command and Supreme Allied Commander<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2000-2009<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

2000: May – Fred Rogers, children\u2019s television personality; December 17, 2000: Randall Pinkston, Anchorman<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2001: May – Tim Russert, NBC\u2019s \u201cMeet the Press\u201d; December – Roberta Bondar, Canadian Physician, Astronaut<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2002: May – Ruud Lubbers, Prime Minister of Netherlands; December – Steve Coll, Managing Editor of Washington Post, Pulitzer Prize Winner<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2003: May – Thomas Schievelbein, Northup Grumman, and David Goode, of Norfolk Southern. (Split Ceremony); December – Elie Weisel, Holocaust Museum Founder, Author: Night<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2004: May – Alton \u201cJay\u201d Harris, ESPN Sportscaster and class of 1987, and Admiral Vern Clark Chief of Naval Operations (Split Ceremony); December – Mark R. Warner, Governor of Virginia<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2005: May – John McCaslin, Washington Times and Chicago Tribune, and Cathryn Cranston, Harvard Business Review Publisher (Split Ceremony); December – Vivienne Poy, Member of Canada Senate<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2006: May – Wolf Blitzer, CNN\u2019s \u201cThe Situation Room,\u201d and Michael D\u2019Orso, Author of \u201cLike Judgment Day\u201d (Split Ceremony); December – John T. Casteen III UVA President<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2007: May – Marian Wright Edelman, Founder of Children\u2019s Defense League, and R. Brooks Hanson, Deputy Editor, Science Magazine (Split Ceremony); December – Robert Anthony \u201cTony\u201d Snow, White House Press Secretary, and M.G. Vassanji, Author<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2008: May – Chris Matthews, \u201cHardball with Chris Matthews,\u201d and Leonard Pitts, Jr. of the Miami Herald; December – Timothy M. Kaine, Governor of Virginia, and Kathleen Parker, Columnist<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2009: May – Lt. Gen Kathleen Gainey, Director for logistics Joint Chiefs of Staff, and David Gergen, Director of Communications for Ronald Reagan; December – Benjamin S. Carson, Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient by President George W. Bush,  and Marilyn Tam, Director and Founder of Us Foundation<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2010-2019<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

2010: May – Klaus Scharioth, German Ambassador to the United States, and Alina Cho, \u201cAmerican Morning\u201d on CNN; December; Robert F. Mc.Donnell, Governor of Virginia, and Admiral William J. Fallon, U.S. Navy<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2011: May – Blythe J. McGarvie, Author, \u201cShaking the Globe: Courageous Decision-Makers in a changing World,\u201d Jim Webb, Virginia Senator, and Adriane M. Brown, COO Intellectual Ventures; December – General Stephane Abrial, of NATO\u2019s Allied Commander Transformation, and Patricia J. Williams, Lawyer, Author: \u201cThe Alchemy of Race and Rights\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2012: May 4 and 5 – Les Payne, Pulitzer Prize Winning Reporter, Wendy Bahr, Vice President, Strategic Partners for the Worldwide Partner Organization for Cisco. Jack J. Ross, President & COO of Dominion Enterprises; December – Christine Mann Darden, Director, NASA Langley, Kenneth A. Samet, President and CEO, Medstar Health<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2013: May 10 and 11 – Ines Bustillo, Director, Office of United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean. J. Randy Forbes, U.S. Congress, Barry C. Black, Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy; December – Honorable Scott Rigell, U.S. House of Representatives, Geoffrey Canada of Harlem Children\u2019s Zone<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2014: May 9 and 10 – Nancy Kirkpatrick, President of Lionsgate Movie Company.  Alma J. Powell, America\u2019s Promise Alliance; December Mike Petters, CEO Huntington Ingalls Industries, Robert C. Bobby Scott, U.S. House of Representatives<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2015: May 8 and 9 – Terry McAuliffe, Governor of Virginia, Marcia K. Brand, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; December – Alice C. Hill, White House National Security Council, The Honorable Ralph S. Northam, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2016: May 6 and 7 – Robb Wittman, Congressman, Robert M. Blue, Senior Vice President of Dominion Power, and Joyce Roche, CEO, Girls Incorporated. December 17 – Rear Admiral Peter A. Gumataotao, Chief of Staff, Strategic Plans and Policy with Supreme Allied Command Transformation in Norfolk, and Molly Ward, Virginia Secretary of Natural Resources<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2017: May 5 and 6 – Tim Seibles, English Professor and Virginia Poet Laureate (May 5 Graduate ceremony), Christine Pantoya, Senior Vice President of Mobile Strategy for the NBA (May 5 College of Arts and Letters), Ting Xu, Founder and President of Evergreen Enterprises (May 6 Darden College of Education and Strome College of Business), and Angela Hucles, Founder and CEO of Empowerment Through Sport and an Olympic gold medalist (May 6 Batten College of Engineering and Technology, College of Health Sciences, and College of Sciences). December 16 – Drew Ungvarsky, class of 2002 and CEO and Executive Creative Director of Grow, an advertising agency (College of Sciences, Darden College of Education, Batten College of Engineering and Technology), and Miki Toliver King, Vice President, Operations and Digital Marketing at the Washington Post (College of Arts and Letters, Strome College of Business, College of Health Sciences)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2018: May 4 and 5 – John A. Adam, Mathematics Professor (May 4 Advanced Degree ceremony), Reuben E. Brigety II, Dean of the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University (May 4 College of Arts and Letters), Liz Edlich ’85, Founder and CEO of Radical Skincare (May 5 Strome College of Business and Darden College of Education), and Sharon Dunbar, Vice President and General Manager of Federal Systems at General Dynamics Mission Systems (May 5 Batten College of Engineering and Technology, College of Health Sciences, and College of Sciences). December 15 – James A. Squires, Chairman, President and CEO of Norfolk Southern (9 am: Darden College of Education and Professional Studies, Batten College of Engineering and Technology, College of Sciences), and Justin E. Fairfax, Lt. Governor of Virginia (2 pm: College of Arts and Letters, Strome College of Business, College of Health Sciences).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2019: May 10 and 11 – Maj. Gen. Jeanette (Jan) K. Edmunds (U.S. Army-Ret.) (May 10 College of Arts and Letters), Dr. Carolyn Rutledge, Professor of Nursing at ODU and Professor of Family Medicine at Eastern Virginia Medical School (May 10 Advanced Degree ceremony), Betsy Duke ’83, Chair of Wells Fargo’s Board of Directors (May 11 Strome College of Business and Darden College of Education and Professional Studies), Tim Kaine, United States Senator from Virginia and former Governor of Virginia (Frank Batten College of Engineering and Technology, College of Health Sciences and College of Sciences). December 14 – Aubrey L. Layne, Jr., Virginia Secretary of Finance (9 am: Darden College of Education and Professional Studies, Batten College of Engineering and Technology, and College of Sciences), and Kenneth C. Alexander, Mayor of Norfolk (2 pm: College of Arts and Letters, Strome College of Business, and College of Health Sciences).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2020-Present<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

2020: No in-person Commencement ceremonies were held as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2021: May 5 – U.S. Senator Mark R. Warner (Va.), virtual ceremony with in-person ceremonies May 6-8 at S.B. Ballard Stadium. December 18 – Lt. Gen. Donna W. Martin ’88, 67th Inspector General of the U.S. Army (9 a.m.: Darden College of Education and Professional Studies, Batten College of Engineering and Technology, College of Sciences, and School of Cybersecurity), and Scott Cooke ’93, ’96, Group Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Toyota Financial Services (2 pm: College of Arts and Letters, Strome College of Business, and College of Health Sciences).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2022: May 6 – Angela Bassett, Actress, Director, and Executive Producer (2 p.m.: College of Arts and Letters), Dr. Sachin Shetty, Executive Director of the Center for Secure and Intelligent Critical Systems at ODU’s Virginia Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center (VMASC) (6:30 p.m.: Advanced Degree Ceremony), May 7 – Dr. Brian O. Hemphill, ODU President (9 a.m.: Strome College of Business and Darden College of Education and Professional Studies), Howard P. Kern, president and chief executive officer of Sentara Healthcare (2 p.m.: Frank Batten College of Engineering and Technology, the College of Health Sciences, the College of Sciences and the School of Cybersecurity). December 17 – Alton “Jay” Harris ’87, Journalist and Anchor of ESPN’s Sports Center<\/em>, speaker for both services<\/strong> (9 a.m.: Darden College of Education and Professional Studies, Batten College of Engineering and Technology, College of Sciences, School of Cybersecurity; 2 p.m.: College of Arts and Letters, Strome College of Business, College of Health Sciences, the Graduate School).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2023: May 5 – Dr. Nina Brown, Department of Counseling and Human Services (6 p.m.: Advanced Degree Ceremony). May 6 – Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin (9 a.m.: College of Arts and Letters, the Strome College of Business, the Darden College of Education and Professional Studies, the Batten College of Engineering and Technology, the College of Health Sciences, the College of Sciences, the School of Cybersecurity and the School of Nursing). December 16 – Robert C. “Bobby” Scott, U.S. Representative from Virginia, speaker for both services<\/strong> (9 a.m.: College of Arts and Letters, Batten College of Engineering and Technology, College of Sciences, School of Cybersecurity; 12:30 p.m.: Darden College of Education and Professional Studies, Strome College of Business, College of Health Sciences, School of Nursing, Graduate School, and School of Data Science).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2024: May 3 – Dr. Lawrence Weinstein, Department of Physics (6 p.m.: Advanced Degree Ceremony). May 4 – Captain Janet H. Days ’99, Commanding Officer for Naval Station Norfolk (8:30 a.m.: College of Arts and Letters, the Strome College of Business, the Darden College of Education and Professional Studies, the Batten College of Engineering and Technology, the College of Health Sciences, the College of Sciences, the School of Cybersecurity and the School of Nursing). December 14 – Kelly Till ’94, speaker for both services<\/strong> (9 a.m.: College of Arts and Letters, Batten College of Engineering and Technology, the College of Sciences, the School of Cybersecurity and the School of Data Science; 12:30 pm: Graduate School, the Darden College of Education and Professional Studies, Strome College of Business, and Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University\u2019s Ellmer College of Health Sciences and Ellmer School of Nursing. The ceremony also marks the first to celebrate graduates (2) from Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) School of Health Professions at ODU). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2025: May 9 – Dr. John B. Ford, Department of Marketing (6 p.m.: Advanced Degree Ceremony). May 10 – Meagan Good, Actress, Director, and Executive Producer (9:30 a.m.: Batten College of Engineering and Technology, the Darden College of Education and Professional Studies, the Ellmer College of Health Sciences, the Ellmer College of Nursing, the Strome College of Business, the College of Arts and Letters, the College of Sciences, the School of Cybersecurity, and the School of Data Science. May 17 – Dr. Alfred Abuhamad, MD, Executive Vice President for Health Sciences and dean of the medical school, Macon and Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences Eastern Virginia Medical School and EVMS School of Health Professions at ODU. *This is the first full class ceremony for graduates of VHS<\/strong>. December 13 – R. Bruce Bradley (MBA ’78, H.D. ’10), former Rector of the ODU Board of Visitors and member of Board of Directors for Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at ODU (9 a.m.: Batten College of Engineering and Technology, College of Arts and Letters, College of Sciences, School of Cybersecurity, School of Data Science and School of Supply Chain, Logistics and Maritime Operations), (12:30 p.m.: Darden College of Education and Professional Studies, Ellmer College of Health Sciences, Ellmer School of Nursing, EVMS School of Health Professions,, Strome College of Business, and the Joint School of Public Health (partnership with Norfolk State University)). *This is the first time the Joint School of Public Health and the School of Supply Chain, Logistics and Maritime Operations conferred degrees since becoming official schools<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Resources<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  1. Old Dominion University Commencements<\/a>, Special Collections and University Archives, Patricia W. and J. Douglas Perry Library, Old Dominion University Libraries, Norfolk, VA 23529.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Old Dominion University Photographic and Multimedia Collection<\/a>, Special Collections and University Archives, Patricia W. and J. Douglas Perry Library, Old Dominion University Libraries, Norfolk, VA 23529.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Mace & Crown<\/em>, Old Dominion University, 1961-2018.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    There have been Commencement exercises at Old Dominion University (ODU) since 1945, when the institution was known as the Norfolk Division of the College of William & Mary.  History Students would complete their first two years of study at the Norfolk Division and then transfer to either the Williamsburg campus of the College of William & Mary or Virginia… read more »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":878,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"status","meta":{"footnotes":"","wds_primary_category":7},"categories":[7,11],"tags":[20,21,14,18,22,23],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/oduwiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/oduwiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/oduwiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/oduwiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/878"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/oduwiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=87"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/oduwiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2555,"href":"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/oduwiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87\/revisions\/2555"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/oduwiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=87"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/oduwiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=87"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/oduwiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=87"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}