Publisher's Profile:
ODU administrator cites signs of school’s growth

Name: John R. Broderick
Position: Vice president for institutional advancement and admissions
Organization: Old Dominion University
Birthplace: Bristol, Conn.
Current residence: Chesapeake

Old Dominion’s business initiatives in the past year have included the construction of a 60,000-square-foot research build-ing which is the initial structure of a three-building research park. The university has also been at the forefront of the Virginia Modeling and Simulation Initiative and the creation of an Institute for Homeland Security and Crisis Management. Over the past decade, ODU has added more than a million square feet of campus floor space, producing a campus that now has 106 buildings. Virginia Business sat down to speak with ODU’s vice president for institutional advancement and admissions, John Broderick, who has been active in the university’s growth.

How did you get into the business?
It took me a while to find higher education. I spent my early years working at newspapers in Connecticut and Massachusetts before getting involved in the tourism industry at both Martha’s Vineyard and The Berkshires. I started in administration at St. Bonaventure University in upstate New York and then went to a faculty position with the University of Pittsburgh.

What brought you to Virginia?
I came to ODU in 1994 as director of public information became vice president in 1997.

How did higher education fare in 2004?
It was a good year for higher education in the commonwealth of Virginia. The governor and the General Assembly continued to address base adequacy funding for institutions such as Old Dominion University, plus the restructuring legislation passed, which is another positive step forward for colleges and universities in Virginia.

What challenges lie ahead for higher education?
Funding and being accessible to more deserving students come to mind. Our president, Roseann Runte, has pledged that we will accommodate more Virginia students. ODU currently welcomes about 4,000 new students — both transfers and freshmen — annually. Currently, it has attracted a Rhodes Scholar, a Truman Fellow, three USA Today Academic All-Americas and the first Virginia undergraduate to record a patent over the last several years,

What do you consider to be ODU’s biggest accomplishments?
For the second consecutive year, the Virginia Scientist of the Year is from ODU. We were one of only two schools to have two faculty members named by SCHEV as outstanding teachers and researchers in 2005. We were one of only 13 schools across the country to place both their men’s and women’s basketball teams in this year’s NCAA tournament. In addition, the support Gov. Warner and the General Assembly have shown for Old Dominion’s Virginia Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center in Suffolk shows ODU and Virginia are on the cutting edge developing one of the fastest growth industries in the world.

What are some of the major capital improvement projects ODU has in the works?
The University Village, a $55 million private, mixed-use development, created new apartments for 1,000 students near the Ted Constant Convocation Center. Several restaurants have recently opened in the Village and more retail, office and apartment development is planned. In addition, negotiations are under way for private development of a hotel and grocery store on the eastern border of the campus as well as a research park, which the university hopes will attract a variety of businesses and industry.

More than $50 million in renovations and other construction is taking place on campus as a result of the 2003 general obligation bond referendum, including renovations to the Batten Arts and Letters Building, the Technology Building, and construction of a new Physical Sciences Building. Finally, construction is planned for a number of projects, including three new parking structures, additions to the Webb University Center and Diehn Fine and Performing Arts Building, additional recreational facilities, a concert hall, a new oceanogra-phy building and new student-residence halls.
All this investment puts the university’s economic development contributions at more than $600 million.