ODU promotes engineering dean to VP of research

Kenneth J. Fridley has been promoted to vice president for research, Old Dominion University announced Monday. He has been in the position on an interim basis since August 2023 while also serving as dean of ODU’s Batten College of Engineering and Technology.

Fridley, who began his new role Wednesday, will continue as interim dean until a permanent engineering dean is named. He joined ODU in July 2022. Before coming to Norfolk, Fridley served in several roles at the University of Alabama. Most recently, he spent eight years as senior associate dean for administration at Alabama’s College of Engineering. He was also interim dean of the Honors College for a year and head of the Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering for 12 years.

Fridley has expertise in engineered wood construction, performance and hazard mitigation. He has published 65 peer-reviewed journal papers and co-authored a wood engineering design textbook. Additionally, he has been responsible for more than $14.4 million in sponsored research, supported by a variety of federal, state and industry sources. Much of his research has directly impacted the civil engineering profession, resulting in changes in national design specifications, standards and codes, according to a news release from ODU.