ODU Tri-Cities Higher Ed Center

11/22/2024

Old Dominion University Named a 2024 Healthiest Employer of Virginia

By Kenya Godette
Old Dominion University was named in the 2024 Healthiest Employers of Virginia rankings. The University was ranked fourth in the “1,000 to 4,999 Employees” category and the only higher education institution ranked in the state.

The Healthiest Employers rankings acknowledge companies for a commitment to workplace wellness and excellence in health and benefits offerings. Organizations are graded using six pillars that assess targeted programs that address health needs and wellbeing; infrastructure that supports and sustains these programs; the use of data to evaluate program effectiveness; promotion techniques for health programs; leadership’s dedication to fostering workplace wellness; and how initiatives align with long-term goals to promote employee health.

ODU’s faculty and staff programs like on-campus health screenings, flu shot clinics, mental health resources, mobile mammograms and wellness fairs create a comprehensive set of offerings that contributes to its status as a top healthy employer.

According to Kim Butler, benefits specialist, a holistic and proactive approach to employee wellbeing directly impacts an organization’s productivity, culture and success – creating a positive environment where employees can thrive.

“When employees feel valued, supported and healthy, they are more engaged, productive, and loyal, which reduces turnover and enhances team morale,” she said.

The employee benefits website’s “Own Your Wellness” page outlines a variety of financial, emotional, social, physical and occupational health options.

The emotional wellness category offers services like confidential counseling and referral services under the Employee Assistance Program and resources for stress and anxiety reduction. For physical health, employees can take advantage of recreation and wellness resources like gym memberships and personal trainers and new moms can utilize lactation rooms throughout campus. Financial wellness offers benefits like investment guidance and employee discounts while social wellness includes employee resource groups that promote diversity and community.

Butler believes that the University’s investment in these kinds of programs underscores their commitment and “genuine care” about their workforce’s quality of life.

An increasingly popular occupational health initiative is the Tuition Assistance program. Just this year, 290 employees and 158 dependents were enrolled, generating 2,227 credit hours applied toward degree-seeking programs.

“This initiative not only alleviates the financial burden of education but also encourages continuous learning and development,” said September Sanderlin, vice president for Human Resources, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Interested qualifying employees are encouraged to apply for the upcoming 2025 spring semester while there’s time. The application period closes Dec. 2.

“By prioritizing education, health and wellbeing, we strive to maintain a thriving, engaged and productive workforce, making our University a leader in employee wellness in the higher education sector,” Sanderlin said.

By Kenya Godette Old Dominion University was named in the 2024 Healthiest Employers of Virginia rankings. The University was ranked fourth in the “1,000 to 4,999 Employees” category and the only higher education institution ranked in the state.

11/21/2024

ODU Celebrates International Education Week to Support Cultural Exchange

By Kelsey Kendall

All week, the Office of Intercultural Relations is celebrating International Education Week, hosting a series of events that highlight the global population at Old Dominion University.

International Education Week, which runs through Nov. 22, is a U.S. Department of State and Department of Education joint initiative aimed at recognizing the benefits of international education. This year’s theme is “Explore,” which inspired “the world awaits” kinds of events and programs at the University, Sofia Calicchio, assistant director for international initiatives, said.

At Old Dominion, various student organizations, departments and classes are hosting activities on campus that encourage connections and cultural exchanges between international and domestic students.

The week kicked off with an event in Webb Student Center and presentation from visiting Fulbright Scholar, Inga Kotlo, who will speak about her home country of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Monday event also introduced a special exhibit, “A Picture-Perfect Bosnia and Herzegovina,” which features photos from Bosnian photographers as well as from Kotlo’s personal collection. It will be on view in the Mane Hub all week.

There will also be student gatherings on Tuesday, offering European and West African students the opportunity to meet up and connect. Monarch Dining will serve Sri Lankan food Wednesday, and on Thursday the University community will be welcomed to participate in the “Plant Your Peace” event where lavender seeds will be planted to promote inner peace. To finish up the week, the Indian Students Association will host its annual Diwali celebration.

A full list of events can be found on the Office of Intercultural Relations’ website.

Old Dominion serves students from all over the world. Last year, more than 750 international students were enrolled at the University each semester, making up about 35% of undergraduate students and 65% of graduate students.

“The goal that we try to achieve with International Education Week is to really emphasize the importance of international education,” Calicchio said.

She said it promotes cultural exchange, global mindsets and intercultural competency. Domestic students are often the target audience for the activities that give them the chance to interact with others from outside their communities and learn about ways they can be more involved — whether by studying abroad or seeking out local opportunities.

Cheikh Faye, a master’s student in computer science from Senegal, said the University offers many resources to support international students like him as they move forward with their studies. This is his first semester at Old Dominion, and he has found ways to get involved on campus, whether as a graduate assistant in the Office of Intercultural Relations or through student organizations like the Graduate Student Government Association and the Global Monarch Club.

“One of the important things we are able to achieve through this is to make sure all communities, whether it’s the international or the domestic, are able to feel a sense of belonging,” Faye said.

There are many resources available to international students through the Office of Intercultural Affairs. More information can be found on the website.

By Kelsey Kendall All week, the Office of Intercultural Relations is celebrating International Education Week, hosting a series of events that highlight the global population at Old Dominion University.

11/15/2024

ODU Among Virginia's Top 5 in Military Times Best for Vets 2024

By Kenya Godette

Old Dominion University was ranked as a top institution in the Military Times Best for Vets: Colleges 2024 rankings. The University ranked fourth out of 14 in Virginia, placing it in the top five in the state, and 87th out of 304 overall, putting it in the top third nationwide.

But rankings like this aren’t awarded without a deep understanding of what helps veterans succeed in higher ed. According to Lauren Thompson ‘09, student support and programming coordinator for the Military Connection Center (MCC), ODU goes above and beyond the required financial support for veterans – it’s the buy-in from leadership for veteran activities, programs and offices that nudges the University over the edge.

“Not every campus has this,” Thompson said. “Only 300 colleges are ranked and there’s a lot more than that.”

ODU’s strong ROTC programs, Military Connection Center, veteran peer advisors and success coaches, veteran scholarships and military partnerships with ODU Athletics all contributed to the Military Times' ranking of the University, according to Thompson. Per the Military Times scoring rubric, there’s an emphasis on military-specific resources, financial assistance and admissions and registration policies – with a particular focus on student success metrics.

To that end, Thompson noted Old Dominion’s transition programs for veterans as “one of the things we were able to brag about the most.” Operation BLUE – Bridging Life and University Experience – is one of them. The yearlong active learning program aims to guide student veterans through activities to gain practical experience, self-awareness and transferable skills.

“In other words, we are helping veterans gain civilian experience and get acclimated to campus,” Thompson said.

Another component of student veteran success at ODU is the built-in military community that forms strong bonds between veterans and their military-affiliated peers. Thompson, a daughter and granddaughter of Navy veterans and wife of a Virginia Air National Guard veteran, understands just how important that is.

“Having that community and camaraderie, that’s one of the things the military does, maybe even unintentionally,” she said. “It’s like building that group of people who have gone through ‘the thing,’ and we have that here.”

Having peer-to-peer interactions help veterans surmount challenges from registration to classwork. Having someone explain solutions from a similar lens and in digestable terms has created many “light bulb moments” for veterans at ODU, Thompson said.

It also bridges the gap for student veterans who self-isolate. “It’s a totally different environment. And whether they liked it or not, there was a lot of structure in the military,” Thompson said. “Adjusting can be really interesting.” Some think they will be the eldest in their classroom, fear the stigma of being in the military and hesitate to take advantage of resources offered to “traditional” students.

Another key feature that aids in veteran student success is the student veteran success coach embedded in the MCC. The goal of the position is to assist veterans with everyday issues that could affect their academic life. “No matter how old the student is, their life experience is different than what other students may be dealing with. Having someone who understands that and speaks the ‘military jargon’ is proving to be really important,” Thompson said.

With nearly 30% of ODU’s student population being military-affiliated, veterans form an essential thread in the fabric of the University – and people like Thompson are the ones weaving it all together.

“We’re here to help them use what they earned. You did the time, and you have this benefit at the end of the road. We want to make sure they take advantage of that to the fullest,” she said.

https://www.odu.edu/article/odu-among-virginias-top-5-military-times-best-for-vets-2024

11/15/2024

ODU Alumnus’s Field of Dreams is ESPN’s Connecticut Headquarters

By Brendan O’Hallarn

Old Dominion College of Arts and Letters graduate Malachi Payne has been an employee of ESPN for more than two years. But he frequently feels like he never left university when he walks around the media giant’s Bristol, Connecticut, headquarters.

“ESPN has been a positive environment to work since Day 1,” said Payne ’22, a New Jersey native who earned a media studies degree from the Department of Communication and Theatre Arts. “The campus gives you a college vibe from building to building. You can see somebody new every day, just by going to cafeteria at the right time for lunch rush.”

A content associate for ESPN, Payne produces highlights from sports broadcasts, frequently working hand in hand with senior colleagues in the ESPN control room.

“I certainly knew that I would be working in sports in some capacity, but I can honestly say I did not see myself doing this. I had never edited anything aside from the reel I put together in an effort to get an on-air position.”

Payne’s skills have brought him to college basketball events, the NBA Draft, and a personal favorite memory so far — the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

“Being able to work with the kids in that type of environment where they are there to compete but also to have fun and represent their region or country was an incredible experience,” he said.

The international event, held far from Norfolk, also yielded an unexpected reunion. Moira Olexa ’23, a fellow ODU communication graduate, was working as a freelancer for the production team at ESPN, the third time the Philadelphia native had worked the Little League World Series. Olexa has since been hired as an account executive with Little League’s Partnership Marketing Team.

“Running into (Moira) at LLWS was so funny because I didn’t believe her at first,” Payne said. “It was so interesting both being in the mountains of Pennsylvania working this incredible event and knowing we were both walking the Webb around the same time.”

Olexa, who played for the Old Dominion lacrosse team in her time at the University, said “we were both in disbelief” when she and Payne made the connection. “It was so nice to meet a fellow Monarch in the sports industry and especially at ESPN. We were repping ODU proudly while working.”

The “Worldwide Leader” has another noteworthy Monarch in its ranks — anchor Jay Harris ’87, himself a Communication and Theatre Arts graduate and former member of the University’s Board of Visitors. Payne said he met Harris at a panel discussion hosted by the Department in 2020.

“At the conclusion of the panel, I approached Jay and asked him what steps he was taking when he was in my shoes and got some great feedback,” Payne said. “I took his email down and kept in contact with him. I am still in contact with him from time to time, although he is usually pretty busy.”

Eager to pass on that guidance he received, Payne said Monarchs who aspire to move to a large sport organization like ESPN should take advantage of every opportunity they can while at Old Dominion.

“Find national organizations that are aligned with your career path and get involved with them. If they have a convention every year, try to get to one before you graduate. Get in contact with the alumni association and get to know the professionals who were sitting in the classrooms that you sat in and are walking in the career footsteps that you want to walk in.”

Also, Payne said, don’t be afraid to put yourself out there.

“I took my (highlight) reel I created to three different news stations, and they all told me it was really bad. But they saw I was passionate about it and was serious about starting a career in the field, so they gave me feedback and told me keep in contact with them.”

Ultimately Payne took that same reel to ESPN, “knowing it wasn’t good, but also knowing that they could give me feedback that the other stations couldn’t.” The visit led to an interview for the position Payne was hired for in September 2022.

Two years later, “the research that I do in order for me to pitch and produce highlights requires me to be extremely thorough and that sums up my entire ODU journey.”

By Brendan O’Hallarn Old Dominion College of Arts and Letters graduate Malachi Payne has been an employee of ESPN for more than two years. But he frequently feels like he never left university when he walks around the media giant’s Bristol, Connecticut, headquarters.

11/14/2024

From Togo to Triumph: How Safiou Olossoumare Achieved Her American Dream Through ODUGlobal

By Jonathan Heeter

Safiou Olossoumare ‘24 didn’t know if she had made the right choice when she arrived in New York City from West Africa in 2015.

Then 20 years old, Olossoumare hoped to eventually give her family a better life. But that dream felt far away as she worked various jobs while trying to make community college work for her at the same time.

“I had doubts. I wondered, ‘What am I doing?’” said Olossoumare, who came to the U.S. on a green card. “But I adapted and started to feel more comfortable. That’s when I found the path that would help me move forward.”

Olossoumare decided to join the Navy to earn her citizenship and give back to the country that had become her home. As she completes her military service, Olossoumare has already achieved one of her biggest goals: bringing members of her family to America. Now, she’s ready to begin the next chapter with a bachelor’s in business administration through ODUGlobal, which she finished in May.

“I didn’t quit. I didn’t give up,” Olossoumare said. “I had my motivation: helping my family and serving my new country. The military was the steppingstone for me to succeed in this country of great opportunities.”

Olossoumare found another route to success with ODUGlobal.

When she started her degree program with a focus in accounting, Olossoumare was able to schedule her classes around her military work.

Life brought new challenges during her coursework. Her military service allowed her to bring her family to Virginia, and she welcomed two children — a boy and a girl — during her time at ODU. The flexibility of ODUGlobal’s asynchronous program proved essential, unlocking a path to graduation she might not have had otherwise.

“There’s no way I could’ve gotten through school without me being able to fit my schedule around my life,” Olossoumare said. “ODU provided me with the skill and knowledge and showed me how to think critically and effectively solve complex problems.”

Getting her degree seemed very far away as a child in Lomé, the capital of the African nation Togo. She grew up with seven siblings and a large family that didn’t have significant financial means. However, her parents valued education, and Olossoumare said she was an outstanding student. She speaks English, French and German. After finishing regular schooling and some college in Togo, her family sent Olossoumare to New York City with a green card and a dream of helping the family out.

She started community college while washing dishes at a restaurant and took another job as a security guard. But joining the military, she thought, would provide the straightest path to citizenship and help her family.

“Joining the military was a sacrifice, but it felt like an easy decision once I focused on my end goal,” Olossoumare said. “When you put your mind to it, anything is possible.”

Olossoumare became a Navy logistics specialist, ordering supplies and managing inventory. She served on the USS Leyte Gulf, a recently decommissioned cruiser, and the USS Whidbey Island, a dock landing ship. Her military work intersected with her career interests, so working towards a degree in accounting fit perfectly. She completed her associate’s degree in business administration and management at Tidewater Community College before transferring to ODU.

Olossoumare brought her mother to live in Chesapeake in 2022. She also brought a brother from Togo and helped enroll him at the community college. Olossoumare’s husband, who studied computer science at ODU, plans to resume his studies after joining the Navy himself.

After finishing her undergraduate coursework, Olossoumare transitioned to the Navy Individual Ready Reserve in September to fulfill her military service obligation. She’s already dabbled in civilian life with an accounting internship with the City of Norfolk this past summer. She wants to work as a business analyst or logistics manager to utilize her military expertise.

But up next for Olossoumare will be even more education. She plans to get her MBA through ODUGlobal, feeling empowered to advance to a graduate program.

“I saw a path that other people found to become successful here,” Olossoumare said. “And I thought I could do it. Now, I have kids that are American. I have my citizenship. I brought family with me. I continued my education. I’m overly blessed.”

By Jonathan Heeter Safiou Olossoumare ‘24 didn’t know if she had made the right choice when she arrived in New York City from West Africa in 2015. Then 20 years old, Olossoumare hoped to eventually give her family a better life. But that dream felt far away as she worked various jobs while tryin...

11/14/2024

Navy Veteran’s Life Has Revolved Around Water

By Sherry DiBari

It’s no surprise that Andrew Hasty would end up in coastal Virginia – his life has always revolved around water.

Hasty, a mechanical engineering technology major and 12-year Navy veteran, grew up in Ketchikan, Alaska, a small city on the Gulf of Alaska. He spent most of his childhood outdoors – hunting, camping and fishing.

Fishing eventually turned into his profession. He worked for a while as a commercial salmon fisherman in a small operation consisting of just him and the captain.

“I've lived my whole life on the water,” he said.

His love of water, his desire to see the world beyond Ketchikan and a family connection led him to join the Navy at 18.

One of his grandfathers served in the Coast Guard, and another served in Vietnam.

“I felt more connected to them, and it felt like I was carrying on their legacy,” he said. “It was nice that I was able to do that.”

In the Navy, Hasty circled the globe docking in places like South America, Iceland and the Middle East.

“It was incredible,” he said. “I went to a lot of cool places.”

He transitioned out of the service in 2021 as a first-class quartermaster.

When Hasty began searching for engineering programs that offered robotics and additive manufacturing – two of his interests – he found the perfect fit in the engineering technology program at Old Dominion University.

He decided to major in engineering technology with a concentration in mechatronics and to pursue a minor in engineering management.

One professor that has influenced Hasty is Charles Lowe, a lecturer in the Department of Engineering Technology.

“Professor Lowe is hilarious,” Hasty said. “Just his humor and the stories he tells and the way he explains the material are just awesome.”

Lowe holds Hasty in high regard as well.

“I had him as a student in multiple classes where he consistently displayed a strong work ethic and a commitment to excellence,” Lowe said. “As a veteran, he brought a unique perspective to the classroom, demonstrating exceptional engagement and dedication that enriched discussions and inspired his peers.”

Hasty attributes his success to his time in the military and his status as an older student.

“I have more responsibilities than most college students,” Hasty said. “But I have the ability to manage them a lot better.”

Hasty plans to graduate next fall and then find a job in the robotics or 3D-printing field.

Outside of school, he stays busy with home projects. He recently installed a fire pit and replaced all the drywall in one of his bathrooms.

“I'm a homeowner, so I always have home projects to do,” he said. “It never ends.”

Next semester he will be extra busy – he and his wife are expecting their third child.

Hasty will be back on the water soon – this time in a different role.

“My wife is already planning a Disney cruise vacation,” he said.

By Sherry DiBari It’s no surprise that Andrew Hasty would end up in coastal Virginia – his life has always revolved around water. Hasty, a mechanical engineering technology major and 12-year Navy veteran, grew up in Ketchikan, Alaska, a small city on the Gulf of Alaska. He spent most of his chil...

11/08/2024

Two Faculty Inducted as Fellows of the American Academy of Nursing

By Kenya Godette

On Nov. 2, two distinguished faculty in the Ellmer School of Nursing, part of Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University, were inducted as Fellows of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN) during a ceremony at the annual Health Policy Conference in Washington, D.C.

Associate Professors Tina Gustin, DNP and Kelli Garber, DNP, were recognized by peers within and beyond the nursing profession for their contributions to the advancement of public health – a significant milestone in their professions.

Dr. Gustin described her designation as the biggest honor she will have in her nursing career. For Dr. Garber, being inducted next to her “mentor and friend,” Gustin, made the achievement even more meaningful.

Drs. Gustin and Garber will join more than 3,000 Fellows who represent the nations most accomplished leaders in nursing academia, administration, research, practice and policy. Fellows contribute their expertise to the Academy through collaboration with national and global healthcare leaders to improve health outcomes and equity through advocacy and innovation.

“To be selected through the rigorous application process and be included in the company of so many incredible nurses from around the world is an achievement that I will always cherish,” Dr. Garber said.

Dr. Garber is a pediatric primary care nurse practitioner with more than 28 years of experience in private practice, school-based health and virtual care. She is an expert in telehealth and contributed to the statewide development and expansion of school-based telehealth in South Carolina. At ODU, she is director of the Doctor of Nursing Practice Advanced Practice Program and is leading efforts to develop school-based health in the ODU Community Care Program – the University’s community health program that solves challenges faced by rural and underserved populations. She serves on many state and national boards and recently completed a gubernatorial appointment to the South Carolina Board of Nursing.

Dr. Gustin has more than 35 years of advanced practice nursing experience. She is the co-director of the Ellmer College of Nursing Center for Telehealth Innovation, Education, and Research (C-TIER) - a national telehealth learning hub and research center. She has served as the Principal Investigator (PI) and Co-PI for grants totaling more than $6 million aimed at populations served through Community Care initiatives and was at the helm of the development of its partnership with People in Need (PiN) Ministry, and most recently, the Virginia Beach Housing Resource Center aimed at providing free and charitable healthcare for the unhoused population in Virginia Beach. She is the clinical manager for the Pediatric Telehealth program at Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters. She serves on several local, state and national boards and organizations. She served as the telehealth advisor for the Virginia Mental Health Access Program, is a community board member for PiN Ministry and is on the Center for Telehealth and eHealth Law advisory board.

Drs. Gustin and Garber will join five FAANs at Old Dominion, bringing the University’s total to seven inductees:

Jeffrey Doucette, DNP – Adjunct Instructional Faculty in the Ellmer School of Nursing
Deborah Gray, DNP – Clinical Associate Professor in the Ellmer School of Nursing
Janice Hawkins, Ph.D. – Assistant Professor in the Ellmer School of Nursing
Robert Hawkins, DNP – Adjunct Instructional Faculty in the Ellmer School of Nursing
Carolyn Rutledge, Ph.D. – Professor and Eminent Scholar in the Ellmer School of Nursing

This is just the latest accolade for the Ellmer School of Nursing, recently awarded the 2024 silver ranking for quality standards programs from the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics. These awards and the recognition of its faculty “add to the prestige of the school,” according to Gustin. Both Drs. Gustin and Garber thank their colleagues and leadership within the school for their continued support that enabled them to aim high and pursue achievements like this one.

The cohort of FAANs leverage their membership to advance nursing locally and globally, making changes through innovative practices, advanced research and expanded community health initiatives.

By Kenya Godette On Nov. 2, two distinguished faculty in the Ellmer School of Nursing, part of Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University, were inducted as Fellows of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN) during a ceremony at the annual Health Policy Conference in Washin...

11/07/2024

ODU’s ‘Gear Up’ Exhibit Highlighting Maritime Careers is a Focal Point of ‘Reimagine Nauticus,’ the Newly Redesigned Maritime Center

By Joy Vann

“GearUp,” Old Dominion University’s exhibit and contribution to “Reimagined Nauticus,” a $21-million redesign of the Maritime Discovery Center, opens to the public this weekend, Nov. 9-10, with a discounted admission price of $5.

The University is proud to partner with Nauticus as it celebrates its 30th anniversary on Norfolk’s waterfront with a renovation to reflect its renewed commitment to education, exploration and discovery.

The third floor of the redesigned space features three galleries including “Design, Build, Sail!” “Heart of the Navy” and “Our Port.” ODU’s exhibit is part of the latter gallery and demonstrates the array of careers in the blue economy.

“The purpose of this exhibit is to show K-12 students and patrons of Nauticus many of the great maritime-related careers that are available in their own back yard that they may not have been aware of,” said Elspeth McMahon, the University’s associate vice president of maritime initiatives. “It is also a way of communicating ODU’s Maritime Initiatives to the community while demonstrating how academia and industry work together to support a strong and healthy maritime ecosystem.”

Nate Sandel, Nauticus’s director of education and community engagement, said, "Nauticus is thrilled to partner with ODU on the ‘GearUp’ maritime careers interactive, demonstrating to our visiting students and adults that in Hampton Roads, there are rewarding and lucrative career opportunities for everyone in the maritime industry—whether you have a GED, Ph.D., or anything in between."

With the support of ODU’s Division of Research and Economic Development, in particular, Corrie Marsh, the assistant director for operations, the “GearUp” display was born after meeting Stephen Kirkland, the executive director of Nauticus, who explained plans for the museum’s renovation almost two years ago. It was the perfect time to partner on the important topic of promoting the next generation of the maritime workforce.

Roto, the museum design company responsible for the renovation, created Old Dominion’s interactive gallery including a matching game where participants decide which maritime object is linked to which maritime career.

For instance, a prism pole corresponds to the surveyor job; antennas pair with cybersecurity analyst; and climbing gear goes with wind technician. Other maritime careers highlighted include ship captain, naval architect, marine electrician, dockworker, shipbuilder, terminal operator and customs inspector. Those who interact with the display and want to learn more can scan a QR code that will take them to ODU’s Maritime website where they will find additional information and opportunities for current maritime careers and training in this region.

McMahon worked closely with the University’s network of maritime associates, including Marsh, to decide the best careers to feature in the exhibit. She interviewed faculty and staff, industry partners and personal contacts to select the jobs to highlight—especially the ones with projected workforce shortages—along with the best objects to represent them.

She spoke with representatives from the Hampton Roads Workforce Council, the Virginia Maritime Association, economic development partners and other academic institutions to narrow the list of possibilities to the final 20.

“The creation of this exhibit took a lot of coordination and teamwork from throughout the region—sending out surveys, conducting interviews, reaching out to current industry partners and forming new ones while accepting donations of maritime gear to be used in the display,” McMahon said.

One of the objects sure to be a crowd-pleaser is the EvoLogics Quadroin, an autonomous underwater vehicle used by oceanographers for surveying and monitoring.

“Using biomimicry, the Quadrion mimics the behavior of the penguin, which is sure to be eye-catching. A big thank you to EvoLogics for donating this incredible object that will crown the top of the ‘GearUp’ display, ” McMahon said.

She noted that HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding donated the drafting books used in ship design and naval architecture and contacts at Military Sealift Command donated a sextant, climbing gear and a boiler suit. Tecnico Corp donated a welding mask, torch, paint gun and pipe wrench that people will be able to see and learn from for years to come.

“‘Gear Up’ has been a collaboration between ODU and its maritime partners that we hope will make a lasting imprint on the industry as people of all ages come to learn about great maritime careers and opportunities in Hampton Roads,” McMahon said.

“In order to grow our maritime ecosystem, we must continue to foster our academic, industry and government partnerships. Joining forces with Nauticus for this educational endeavor has been a rewarding experience.”

For more information about ODU’s maritime initiatives, visit ODU’s Maritime website.

For more information about Nauticus, visit www.nauticus.org.

https://www.odu.edu/article/odus-gear-exhibit-highlighting-maritime-careers-a-focal-point-of-reimagine-nauticus-the

By Joy Vann “GearUp,” Old Dominion University’s exhibit and contribution to “Reimagined Nauticus,” a $21-million redesign of the Maritime Discovery Center, opens to the public this weekend, Nov. 9-10, with a discounted admission price of $5. The University is proud to partner with Nauticus...