SPRING 2026
4 e Vice President
Thank you for your care, your insight, and your commitment to helping students learn, thrive, and persist. where people show up for them and are genuinely interested in them, especially when it matters most.
Across Student and Campus Life, I have seen that commitment in action. Colleagues lead with compassion, professionalism, and an unwavering dedication to students and to one another. What it means to be Monarch Strong has been evident in both the everyday work and in how we respond during moments that matter most.
As you read through this issue, I hope you will see that retention takes many forms— strategy, personal care, follow-through, assessment, and a willingness to adapt to student needs. Whether through counseling support, student employment, programming that intentionally connects, or broader initiatives, each effort contributes to a stronger student experience and a greater likelihood that students will stay, grow, and succeed at ODU.
As we look ahead and continue working toward our north star of 82 % fall-to-fall first-year, fulltime retention, I remain deeply grateful for all you do each day to support Monarchs along the path to graduation. Thank you for your care, your insight, and your commitment to helping students learn, thrive, and persist.