NORFOLK, Va. - The president of Old Dominion University announced he will retire in the summer of 2021.
President John R. Broderick announced the news Monday in a letter to the Monarch community.
Broderick said the decision was difficult since the campus is currently facing the challenges of dealing with the global coronavirus pandemic. He said he delayed his announcement to step down to avoid any distractions to the work of the spring semester, which included relocating nearly 5,000 students, transferring 3,000 courses online and transitioning roughly 3,000 employees to telework.
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As ODU shifts into a position of new leadership next year, Broderick acknowledged that there are a number of areas that must be addressed, such as what the future university experience will look like in terms of instruction, research and enrollment.
Broderick said he is looking forward to devoting more time to his wife and his family.
Noting that the search for a new president will likely take at least a year, Broderick said his goal is to provide the board and the university ample time and flexibility before he steps down.
Broderick said he intends to make introductions to donors, elected officials and alumni, help with the budgeting process for the 2021-22 academic year and provide any other desired assistance once his successor is chosen. He said he will as President Emeritus and assist the board and the new president in closing out any projects and initiatives after he takes a short sabbatical.
Being a part of ODU for more than 26 years as a vice president and president, Broderick said his most memorable moment is at every graduation ceremony when he stood on stage and shook hands with more than 30,000 students since 2008. He said everyone he congratulated represents a successful journey.
"I am proud of the many breakthroughs Old Dominion has achieved in the past 12 years, including more than $940 million in new or committed resources. I look forward to watching Old Dominion climb many more mountains, and I will be applauding your every success in 2021 and beyond," Broderick wrote.
Click here to read Broderick's full letter.
