Education 2024: BRIAN O. HEMPHILL

In July, after more than two years of planning, Old Dominion merged with Eastern Virginia Medical School to form the largest suite of health care programs in the state, with 56 academic programs.

The newly integrated entity, in recognition of a $20 million gift from Joan Brock, is known as Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University. Dennis and Jan Ellmer also gave $20 million, announced in June, to provide scholarships to students pursuing health sciences degrees at ODU.

Under Hemphill’s tenure beginning in 2021, the university has received R1 research classification, launched a $500 million capital campaign and received a $5 million Mellon Foundation Award to fund humanities internships, in addition to Hemphill’s role achieving the merger.

Hemphill previously was Radford University’s president and led the creation of Radford University Carilion through a merger with the Jefferson College of Health Sciences. He also is a past president of West Virginia State University.

Hemphill has a bachelor’s degree from St. Augustine’s University, a master’s degree from Iowa State University and a doctorate in higher education administration and policy studies from the University of Iowa.