Dr. Brian O. Hemphill was inaugurated as the ninth president of Old Dominion University last week amongst much pomp and glory.
Hemphill has an extensive background in higher education. He has served in administrative roles at the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville, Northern
Illinois University, West Virginia State University and Radford University.
In his speech, he said the university will remain student focused and the faculty engaged in governance. The university must be forward-focused as well.
Old Dominion University reaches to the Peninsula with several programs, including courses at the ODU Peninsula Center in Hampton.
There are career pathway programs in cooperation with Newport News Shipyard, including a Certificate in Engineering Systems and Industrial Engineering. Since its launch in January 2020, 54 graduates from the shipyard have completed the program, according to Amber Kennedy, Director of News and Media Relations.
ODU is a principal collaborator with the Brooks Crossing Innovation and Opportunity Center (BCIOC) in Newport News’ southeast community. Brooks Crossing is focused on workforce development and STEM education outreach for all ages, and offers free training in everything from learning to DJ to flying drones, she said.
There are collaborations with Jefferson Lab, NASA and Virginia Sea Grant. ODU’s Applied Research Center, in Newport News, has a team of researchers working on scientific and technological problems in the areas of thin films, laser and plasma applications, materials technology and emerging fields, including biomedicine.
The Center for Accelerator Science operates in close partnership with Jefferson Lab, offering researchers and students access to state-of-the-art facilities on campus and in Newport News.
Through their work with the Virginia Space Grant Consortium and Virginia Sea Grant, students and researchers collaborate with other higher education colleagues at NASA, Virginia Institute for Marine Science and other organizations on the Peninsula, she added.
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