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Roseann Runte, Ph.D., president of Victoria University in Toronto, Canada, became Old Dominion University’s (ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿) seventh and first female president following the retirement of  in 2001. After several attempts had failed over the years, President Runte led a successful campaign to revive the football program after a more than 60-year absence. Dr. Runte supported undergraduate and graduate programs and raised the profile of Old Dominion as a prominent research university. 

Among her noteworthy achievements, President Runte excelled at fundraising and putting the needs of the students first. Runte developed the Quad, which consists of six residence halls and the , to make Old Dominion more of a residential campus. For these efforts, the   is named in her honor. She built a strong relationship with the students and taught at least one class a year. Runte also successfully completed a $100-million campaign and worked with legislators for more funding.

Throughout her career at Old Dominion, Dr. Runte supported and strengthened academics, particularly in the areas of bioelectrics and modeling and simulation. Undergraduate and graduate programs were developed and supported, the research portfolio of the university increased, and a required course to teach students about the global environment was introduced.

In January 2008, Runte resigned to become president of Carleton University in Ottawa.

James V. Koch was recruited from the University of Montana to become Old Dominion's sixth president. During his tenure at the University of Montana he was cited for his success in bringing several international programs to the university and for his success in dealing with the state legislature.

President Koch led the development of the TELETECHNET distance learning program, which allowed students from across the country to enroll in live ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿ courses delivered  through satellite.  President Koch’s achievements also include the expansion of campus and his fundraising success. During Koch’s tenure, the University Village was conceived, the Oceanography and Gornto buildings were constructed, and Constant Hall and the F. Ludwig Diehn Center for the Performing Arts were heavily renovated. Grants and contracts grew, the university successfully completed its first capital campaign, and President Koch’s wife, Donna, established the Friends of the ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿ Libraries.

Under Dr. Koch's leadership, Old Dominion's first capital campaign exceeded its goal netting over $50 million in contributions. During Dr. Koch's tenure, Old Dominion's annual contracts, grants, and strategic alliances with regional organizations grew. Between these regional and other efforts, Old Dominion University created more jobs than any other school in the state, and added millions of dollars to the Hampton Roads economy.

After leaving the presidency, Dr. Koch took a year sabbatical and returned to Old Dominion in 2002 to teach Economics. For all his accomplishments, the New Administration Building was renamed in 1999. 

William B. Spong was recruited by the Old Dominion University Board of Visitors to serve as interim president after the resignation of Joseph Marchello. Dr. Spong was sought after because of his connections and familiarity with Virginia state politics. He had served 12 years in the Virginia General Assembly as well as in the U.S. Senate. He was also praised for his work as Dean of the William and Mary Law School. In less than 10 years he was able to take the school from the brink of decertification to a position of national prominence.

Using his knowledge of the "Virginia system" in the General Assembly, Dr. Spong was able to acquire funding for equipment needs, new faculty lines, and building projects including the Center for Coastal Physical Oceanography and the F. Ludwig Diehn Center for the Performing Arts.  He was also a successful fundraiser in the private sector, securing endowments for scholarships and professorships.

When James Koch was chosen to be Old Dominion's permanent president, Dr. Spong made sure that Koch was properly introduced to the state legislative leadership.

After leaving the presidency, Dr. Spong returned to his law practice and teaching.  

Joseph M. Marchello was recruited from the University of Missouri in Rolla, where he served as Chancellor from 1978-1985.

During his tenure at Old Dominion, President Marchello found ways to improve facilities and laid the groundwork for future expansion of the university. Under his tenure, the Higher Education Centers in Hampton and Virginia Beach were established, athletic facilities were improved, and he set in motion the creation of the  as well as the expansion of  and the Lions Club Child Care Center, now the  .  A technology center and entrepreneurial center was also created during his presidency. 

President Marchello was a registered Professional Engineer; a member Societies of Professional Engineers in three states; author of Control of Air Pollution Sources; a member of the American Chemical Society.

The Joseph M. Marchello Dominion Scholars Endowment was established by the Old Dominion University Alumni Association to assist incoming freshmen.

After his resignation from the presidency, he returned to teaching and research in Civil and Environmental Engineering.  

Alfred B. Rollins came to Old Dominion from the University of Vermont where he served as Vice President for Academic Affairs for nine years. President Rollins expanded the university’s state and private funding, revamped student services, and added a new general education program for undergraduates. Rollins also broadened Old Dominion’s emphasis on marine science and added an honors program. 

Believing that Old Dominion should build relationships with the Hampton Roads community, President Rollins maintained and created key partnerships with various agencies and reinvigorated the arts on campus. Rollins helped to build relationships with the US Navy, NASA, Norfolk State University, Eastern Virginia Medical School, and William & Mary. Under his tenure, art, dance, music, and drama were emphasized, and the University Gallery began to flourish.

Of all his accomplishments at Old Dominion, President Rollins was most proud of his advances in affirmative action. During his tenure, Rollins began to tackle the disparity in salaries between women and men, the ±è°ù´Ç²µ°ù²¹³¾â€¯a²Ô»å  were established, the first African American and female deans were hired, several duplicate programs between Old Dominion and Norfolk State University were eliminated, and in 1979, the first Multicultural Center was established on campus.

After retirement from the presidency, Dr. Rollins returned to teaching in the Department of History.  

James L. Bugg became ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿â€™s president in 1969. He was recruited from the University of Missouri at St. Louis where he served four years as Chancellor. Dr. Bugg believed his mission was to change Old Dominion from a college to a university, improve the quality of the faculty and integrate the college into the community it served.

During Dr. Bugg's tenure, many new programs were launched including the first doctoral programs in engineering and oceanography, degrees that would distinguish the university for years to come. Bugg also initiated new noncredit programs to help locals improve their skills and developed programs important to Hampton Roads including urban arts and education, health, and marine science.

He also created the University Senate, a university-wide governance structure in which faculty, administrators and students were represented. He also established the Office of Information Services to keep the community and the legislature apprised of Old Dominion's accomplishments and programs.  In addition, President Bugg began the process of bringing the salaries of women faculty to equal those of men, and the Women’s Caucus was created during his tenure.  

After retiring from the presidency in 1976, Dr. Bugg returned to teaching and research as the Constance & Colgate Darden Professor of History and Education. He retired from the faculty in 1991. 

Lewis Warrington Webb could be called "the Father of Old Dominion." After serving 10 years as an instructor at the Norfolk Division of the College of William and Mary, he was appointed Assistant Director in 1942. He also served as Director of the Defense and War Training Program at the College from 1940-1944. In 1946 Webb was appointed Director of the Norfolk Division.

Dr. Webb's dream was to see the Norfolk Division become an independent institution. He saw that dream fulfilled in 1962 when the Norfolk Division gained its independence from William and Mary and became Old Dominion College. Dr. Webb served as the first President of Old Dominion College from 1962-1969.

Not only did President Webb take the institution from a two-year division to an independent college, he also laid the groundwork for Old Dominion to become a university. President Webb established the advisory board, similar to today’s board of visitors, added bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, and organized the academic departments into several schools, each with their own dean.

Dr. Webb received many honors and awards over the years for his distinguished service in higher education. He was awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree by Hampden-Sydney College in 1967. His many awards and groups presenting these awards include: Sales Executive of the Year (1956), Norfolk- Portsmouth Sales Executive Club; Brotherhood Award, The Catholic Club of Norfolk (1958); Outstanding Service Award (1961), Virginia Society of Professional Engineers, Tidewater chapter; Honors Award (1962), Civitan Club of Norfolk; First Citizen’s Award (1962), Cosmopolitan Club of Norfolk; Distinguished Service Award (1963), Engineering Societies of Tidewater; Engineer of the Year (1964), Virginia Society of Professional Engineers; Maury Achievement Award (1968), Maury High School, and Brotherhood Award (1968), National Conference of Christians and Jews.

°Õ³ó±ð    is named in his honor.