Originally published July 1, 2021.

President Brian O. Hemphill made the announcement this morning to the Monarch community, marking his first day in Office.

In a news video release emailed to the ODU community, he greeted himself as ODU’s ninth president and the newest member of the Monarch nation.

“My family received a warm welcome from the Monarch nation.” The president stated. “I cannot tell you how much outreach and the support meant to our family.”

President Hemphill is the University’s first black president to take office. With over 20 years of administrative experience, he was the president of Radford University from 2016 to 2021.

He also served as the president of West Virginia State University from 2012 to 2016. President Hemphill also worked at the University of Arkansas, the University of North Carolina Wilmington, Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa and Iowa State University.

Former President John D. Broderick had stepped down from his position in June 2021. He says he will be spending more time with his family He has been part of the ODU community for over 26 years and has served as the president of the university for 13 years–the longest an ODU president has served.