Brian O. Hemphill, Ph.D. serves as the ninth president of Old Dominion University, a top-tier R1 research institution and a national leader in access, innovation, and workforce alignment. Since assuming the presidency in July 2021, Dr. Hemphill has led a comprehensive institutional transformation grounded in a forward-focused vision that positions Old Dominion University at the forefront of higher education’s evolution.
Under his leadership, the University has advanced a bold digital transformation strategy designed to modernize academic delivery, enhance the student experience, and align more directly with workforce and economic needs. This includes the expansion of scalable, high-impact academic pathways; the integration of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence across teaching and research; and the launch of MonarchSphere—an innovative, first-of-its-kind AI incubator in partnership with Google Cloud that connects students, faculty, and industry to solve real-world challenges.
Dr. Hemphill has also strengthened Old Dominion University’s role as a critical driver of regional and statewide economic development. Most notably, he successfully led the complex integration of Eastern Virginia Medical School into the University, thereby creating a unified academic health enterprise that is expanding research capacity, advancing healthcare innovation, and addressing critical health disparities across the Commonwealth.
A true champion of access and student success, Dr. Hemphill has prioritized strategies that serve a diverse and dynamic student population, including military-connected learners, adult students, and first-generation college students. His visionary leadership has emphasized outcomes-driven education, accelerated pathways, and workforce-aligned programming to ensure graduates are prepared to succeed in a rapidly changing economy.
Prior to joining Old Dominion University, Dr. Hemphill served as president of Radford University and West Virginia State University, where he led significant growth in enrollment, academic programs, infrastructure, and philanthropic support. Across his distinguished career, he has consistently demonstrated a proven ability to lead complex institutions through transformation, while building strong partnerships with government, industry, and community stakeholders.
Dr. Hemphill is an active national leader in higher education and serves on several prominent boards, including the Board of Directors for John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (NYSE: WLY), the Board of Managers for Preston Hollow Community Capital, and the Board of Directors for Jefferson Science Associates. A published scholar and frequent national speaker, his scholarly work focuses on major issues, including campus safety, higher education finance, and the evolving role of institutions in society.
He holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration and Policy Studies from the University of Iowa, a Master of Science in Journalism and Mass Communication from Iowa State University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Communication from Saint Augustine’s University.
President Hemphill's passion for life and unparalleled commitment to excellence begins at home where he shares his life with his loving and supportive wife, Dr. Marisela Rosas Hemphill, who proudly serves as Old Dominion University's First Lady. The Hemphills are the proud parents of energetic teenage twins, Catalina and Cruz. President Hemphill also has two adult children, Jada, who is a public school teacher in Fort Worth, Texas, and Jordan, who is an Assistant Director of Development at the University of Texas Athletics Department. Above all else, President Hemphill cherishes the time he spends with his children, who are so very precious to him. The Hemphill family resides in the Jacobson House. President and First Lady Hemphill, as well as their entire family, actively engage both on the campus and in the community by attending a variety of activities and events to support their fellow Monarchs!
