Distinguished Alumni Honored

Seven former students were honored with Distinguished Alumni Awards on Founders’ Day last fall. The 2005 recipients are:

• Adriane M. Brown ’80 – An environmental health graduate who worked for 19 years at Corning Inc., she joined Honeywell in 1999 and in 2005 was named president and CEO of Honeywell Transportation Systems.

• Gerald (Jerry) L. Gamache (Ph.D. ’86) – He earned his doctorate in psychology at ODU and is an associate professor of psychology at Flagler College in St. Augustine, Fla., and president of KGA International, a radiological consulting firm.

• Joel S. Lewis ’68 – A longtime administrator with Virginia Power (now Dominion), Lewis left the company in 1997 and co-founded InoVision, which focuses on the purchase and servicing of utility bad debt. He is also a principal in Marlin Holdings, the holding company for InoVision and MEDCLR. One of his three sons is an ODU graduate and another is a student at the university. A Richmond resident, Lewis earned his degree in political science.

• David L. McFarland ’84 – A business administration graduate, McFarland lives in Los Angeles and serves as executive vice president and principal of Studio 4 Networks, the first family of video-on-demand cable networks providing trusted, high-quality educational and health and fitness programming. He is also a partner in a real estate investment and finance company.

• Keith H. Sutton ’83 – The founder of Syzygy Technologies Inc. in 1995, Sutton has led the company through 10 years of remarkable growth. The firm, which provides engineering services to the Department of Defense via numerous multiyear prime contracts, was projecting sales of more than $7 million for 2005. Sutton earned his degree in electrical engineering.

• Victoria V. Sutton (M.P.A. ’86) – Sutton is the chief counsel for the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation. In addition to her master’s in public administration from ODU, she holds a doctorate in environmental sciences and a juris doctorate. Her 2003 book, “Law and Bioterror-ism,” was the first in the field, and her forthcoming work, “Law and Bio- technology,” will be published this year.

• Adm. Robert F. Willard (M.E.M. ’05) – Willard, who earned his master’s in engineering management, has had a distinguished military career and currently is vice chief of naval operations. A 1973 Naval Academy graduate, he has won many awards, including the Defense Distinguished Service Medal and four Legions of Merit. He served as aerial coordinator for the movie “Top Gun.”

Two alumnae receive Town-N-Gown Awards
Two ODU alumnae also received Town-N-Gown Community Service Awards during the program: Linda F. Rohrer ’72 and Dr. Theresa W. Whibley (M.S.Ed. ’74).

Rohrer, who earned her degree in dental hygiene public health, is president and owner of DPS Inc., a major government contractor that provides dental personnel to U.S. government departments and agencies. A Poquoson resident, she was instrumental in helping coordinate relief efforts after Hurricane Isabel devastated the city in 2003. She is a sponsor for An Achievable Dream and a board member of both the Greater Peninsula Boys and Girls Club and the Living Interfaith Network. She is also an advisory board member for ODU’s College of Health Sciences.

Whibley, an obstetrician and gynecologist in private practice at Women Care Centers, PLC, in Norfolk, was appointed to the Norfolk School Board in 1998 and has served as chair since 2002. She is a former chair and current member of the Tidewater Community College Women’s Center Advisory Group and has served on TCC’s Foundation and College boards. She also currently serves on the Access Scholarship Foundation board of directors. Whibley is a past member of the Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters Downtown Circle. She is an assistant professor in the OB/GYN department at Eastern Virginia Medical School.