Old Dominion University’s Board of Visitors announced in a news release Monday that it secured a five-year contract extension with President Brian Hemphill, a reflection of its “unwavering confidence” in him.
The board touted Hemphill’s leadership, pointing to the merging of Eastern Virginia Medical School and ODU, as well as growth in research, philanthropy, enrollment and regional engagement. The extension comes despite a faculty senate vote of “no confidence” in university leadership in March.
Hemphill, the university’s first Black president, was selected as ODU’s ninth president in July 2021. He previously served as president of Radford University and West Virginia State University.
He said in a statement that leading ODU was the honor of his professional career.
“The remarkable progress of the past five years belongs to our talented students, world-class faculty, dedicated staff, passionate alumni, generous donors and community partners,” he said. “Together, we have built a foundation that positions Old Dominion University to lead in areas that matter most, from education and research to healthcare, workforce development and economic growth.”
WHRO News asked for a copy of Hemphill’s new contract, including his agreed-upon salary, and did not receive a copy as of publication.
Under Hemphill, philanthropic giving to the university soared from an average of about $35 million annually to $106.3 million last fiscal year, according to the release. The university has also seen an increase in research funding from about $55 million annually to $116.5 million last fiscal year.
Hemphill is overseeing major capital projects at ODU, including a new $184 million biological sciences building and a $250million engineering and arts building.
First-year student retention has increased while Hemphill has led the university. The board attributed that to ODU’s internship commitment, expanding access, strengthening academic support systems and modernizing instructional delivery.
"President Hemphill's dynamic leadership has propelled Old Dominion University to new heights over the past five years," Board of Visitors Rector P. Murry Pitts said in a statement. "The Board's decision reflects a simple reality: Old Dominion University is stronger today than at any point in its history.”
The board also praised Hemphill’s rollout of the Forward-Focused Digital Transformation Initiative. The plan includes increasing technology in classrooms, using AI and preparing students for a job market defined by fast-paced change.
That initiative sparked backlash from university faculty, who mostly oppose the shortening of online classes to eight weeks from the standard 16-week semester.
More than three-quarters of faculty senate members voted “no confidence” in how university leadership — including Hemphill, Provost Brian Payne and Vice President Nina Rodriguez Gonser — rolled out the plan.
The board of visitors said at the time the vote represented “one viewpoint” but “did not override the responsibility entrusted to the Board of Visitors and the administration to ensure the long-term competitiveness, strength, and sustainability of this institution.”
The faculty senate also criticized Hemphill after a fatal shooting on March 12 at Constant Hall, WAVY reported. It shared a 2024 email from a professor to Hemphill noting security concerns at the building and said it showed a pattern of mismanagement and disregard of faculty concerns. The board of visitors at the time denied that accusation.
Hemphill’s contract extension appears to reflect the board of visitors’ support for Hemphill despite those concerns.
“It reflects confidence in a vision that has already delivered historic results and a commitment to sustaining the momentum that has positioned Old Dominion University among the most innovative and forward-focused public universities in the nation,” the board wrote in its release.
