{"id":39705,"date":"2025-12-13T20:45:28","date_gmt":"2025-12-13T20:45:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/allonlinebanglanewspapers.com\/news\/old-dominion-university-celebrates-nearly-1600-new-graduates-in-143rd-commencement-exercises\/"},"modified":"2025-12-13T20:45:28","modified_gmt":"2025-12-13T20:45:28","slug":"old-dominion-university-celebrates-nearly-1600-new-graduates-in-143rd-commencement-exercises","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/allonlinebanglanewspapers.com\/news\/old-dominion-university-celebrates-nearly-1600-new-graduates-in-143rd-commencement-exercises\/","title":{"rendered":"Old Dominion University Celebrates Nearly 1,600 New Graduates in 143rd Commencement Exercises"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Norfolk, Va., Dec. 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — On December 13,\u202fnearly 1,600\u202fstudents\u202fcrossed\u202fthe stage as newly minted\u202fOld Dominion University\u202falumni\u202fin\u202ftwo ceremonies\u202fduring\u202fthe University\u2019s 143rd Commencement Exercises.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

The first ceremony, held at 9 a.m. in Chartway Arena, celebrated graduates from the Batten College of Engineering and Technology, College of Arts and Letters, College of Sciences, School of Cybersecurity, School of Data Science and the School of Supply Chain, Logistics and Maritime Operations.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The\u202f12:30 p.m.\u202fceremony recognized graduates from\u202fthe\u202fDarden College of Education and Professional Studies, Ellmer College of Health Sciences,\u202fEllmer School of Nursing,\u202fEVMS School of Health Professions,\u202fStrome College of\u202fBusiness\u202fand the Joint School of Public Health, in partnership with Norfolk State University.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

The\u202fday also celebrated\u202ftwo\u202fhistoric\u202fmilestones:\u202fthe\u202fJoint School of Public Health, in partnership with Norfolk State University<\/a>\u202fand\u202fthe\u202fSchool of Supply Chain, Logistics\u202fand\u202fMaritime Operations<\/a>\u202fconferred degrees\u202fto\u202ftheir\u202ffirst\u202fstudents\u202fsince\u202fbecoming official schools.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

Old Dominion University President Brian O. Hemphill, Ph.D., told graduates, \u201cPlease know that, like everyone here today, I am immensely proud of each of you! As your membership\u00a0in the Monarch Nation evolves with today\u2019s transition from students to alumni, that pride will continue to grow in the years to come.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Commencement also featured a keynote address from R. Bruce Bradley (MBA \u201978, H.D. \u201910), former Rector of the Old Dominion University Board of Visitors and current member of the Board of Directors for Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University. A Navy veteran and public servant, he has served as board chair for influential organizations including the Hampton Roads Community Foundation, the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, the YMCA of South Hampton Roads, the Elizabeth River Project, the United Way of South Hampton\u00a0Roads\u00a0and the ACCESS College Foundation. During his professional career in the newspaper industry, Bradley served as president of Landmark Publishing Group and as executive vice president of Landmark Media Enterprises, LLC where he held several leadership positions across the company.\u00a0<\/p>\n

At the 9 a.m. ceremony, Bradley added another distinction: the Old Dominion University Presidential Medallion for Public Service, an honor bestowed on only two other individuals \u2014 a trailblazer and celebrated community leader and a faculty legend who served\u00a0nearly 60\u00a0years at the institution. President Hemphill and Board of Visitors Rector P. Murray Pitts (\u201980) presented Bradley with the Presidential Medallion for Public Service noting the profound and enduring impact he has made on Old Dominion University and the region.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

During his\u202fkeynote\u202faddress,\u202fBradley\u202ftold\u202fgraduates\u202fthat\u202fthey have\u202fbeen part of \u201ca great renaissance at Old Dominion University.\u201d\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

Bradley\u202fchronicled victories the University, and its students, have\u202frealized in just a few years,\u202fciting the University\u2019s\u202fCarnegie\u202fR1 designation<\/a>;\u202fthe\u202fintegration<\/a>\u202fof\u202f\u202fEastern Virginia Medical School into Old Dominion University,\u202fforming the largest\u202fand most comprehensive\u202facademic\u202fhealth sciences\u202fcenter in the commonwealth;\u202fand\u202fmost recently,\u202fthe\u202fcountry\u2019s\u202ffirst-of-its-kind\u202fAI incubator for higher education,\u202fpart of a landmark\u202fpartnership\u202fbetween the\u202fUniversity and Google<\/a>.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cYou should be proud of your degree from Old Dominion University,\u201d Bradley said.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

As Bradley reflected on his 34-year career at Landmark Communications \u2014 which owned companies like The Virginian-Pilot, The Weather Channel and Dominion Enterprises \u2014 he shared a list of traits expected from staff: ethical behavior, get results and develops people.\u00a0<\/p>\n

When discussing \u201cethical behavior,\u201d Bradley asked graduates, \u201cIs doing the right thing situational?\u201d He urged them to calibrate their moral compasses and consider how they would respond if faced with an ethical dilemma. He encouraged graduates to seek employers whose core values include ethical conduct.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

The second trait Bradley spoke about was \u201cgetting results,\u201d saying he hopes the graduates will be known as people who get things done. \u201cYou want people in leadership of your organization to say: \u2018If you want something done, give it to Tonya or give it to James. You,\u201d he said.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Lastly, Bradley spoke about the characteristic \u201cdevelops people.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cEffective leaders treat others with respect,\u201d he said. \u201cSeek to become a work horse and not a show horse. People working for you will appreciate it.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0your job to provide effective coaching, training and development opportunities for the people who work for you.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cCongratulations to each of you,\u201d Bradley concluded. \u201cGo Monarchs.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

President Hemphill closed commencement with a final salute to graduates.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI wish each and every one of you best wishes for a prosperous and successful life,\u201d President Hemphill said. \u201cYou are now graduates of one of the finest universities in the country.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0
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About Old Dominion University<\/b>\u00a0
Old Dominion University (ODU),\u00a0located\u00a0in Norfolk, is Virginia’s forward-focused public doctoral research university with more than\u00a024,000 students. A top R1 research institution offering rigorous academics, Old Dominion University is recognized nationally for academic excellence, social\u00a0mobility\u00a0and access. Military friendly and home to an energetic residential community and robust initiatives that currently contribute\u00a0$3.8 billion\u00a0annually to Virginia’s\u00a0economy,\u00a0Old Dominion University is a leader in the commonwealth. Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University, founded July 1, 2024,\u00a0represents\u00a0the most comprehensive health sciences center in the Commonwealth of Virginia. At the forefront of digital innovation, Old Dominion University partnered with Google in October 2025 to launch\u00a0MonarchSphere\u00a0powered by Google Cloud, a first-of-its-kind AI incubator for higher education.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n