Nancy X. Xu, Ph.D.
X. Nancy Xu is Professor of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Biomedical Engineering at Old Dominion University. During her tenure at Old Dominion University, Dr. Xu has built a state-of-the-art interdisciplinary research laboratory, and successfully developed a nationally and internationally recognized and well-funded interdisciplinary research program at the interface of chemistry, biology, engineering, and medicine. Dr. Xu has demonstrated a track-record of accomplishments in successfully competing for highly prestigious federal research grants from both NIH and NSF. Dr. Xu has pioneered the development of a set of powerful new tools for biomedical research. She has made distinguished contributions to the fields of sensing, imaging, nanobiotechnology, and ultrasensitive bioanalysis. She is especially well known for her pioneering work in single molecule detection, single live cell imaging, single nanoparticle optics, single nanoparticle plasmonic spectroscopy, and electrochemiluminescence, that impacts a number of research fields. Dr. Xu holds a world-wide patent on DNA Biosensors and has consistently published her work in high impact peer-reviewed journals such as Science, JACS, Nano Letter; ACS Nano, Nanoscale, Analytical Chemistry; Journal Physical Chemistry C, Research in Chemical Toxicology; Biochemistry; J. Electrochemical Society.
Dr. Xu has served as a reviewer and panelist for 15 national and international funding agencies, including ACS, DoE, DOD, EPA, NIH, NSF, and NAS in US, French National Research Agency (ANR) in France, DGF in Germany, HKRGC in Hong Kong, Israel Science Foundation, National Science Centre-Poland, Integrated Grants in Singapore, and Swiss-NSF. Dr. Xu has served as the member of executive committee and alternative councilor of ACS Division of Analytical Chemistry since 2016. Dr. Xu received her B.S. from Xiamen University and her Ph.D. from the University of Mississippi. She was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Texas at Austin and Ames Lab-Iowa State University. She has received a number of awards, including ACS Division of Analytical Chemistry Roland F. Hirsch Award, NASA NanoTech Briefs Nano50 Innovator Award, NASA NanoTech Briefs Nano50 Technology Award, Finalist of NIH Follow That Cell Challenge, NSF First BRAIN Initiative EAGER Award, Faculty Research Achievement Award, Distinguished Research Award, John R. Broderick Diversity Champion Award, Student-Nominated Shining Star Recognitions, and Student-Selected Most Inspired Faculty Member. Dr. Xu was elected to the AAAS Fellow in 2011.
Andra Morris
Andra Smith Morris resides in the Hampton Roads. She is a 26-year educator and has 16 years as an assistant principal with Virginia Beach City Public Schools. Andra holds a Bachelor's Degree in Vocal Performance Music from the University of South Florida (1986), a Master's Degree in Vocal Performance Music from the Ohio University (1989), Music Education Certification from the University of West Florida (1989), and an Educational Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from Nova Southeastern University (1991). She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education degree from Regent University.
Andra's passion is helping underrepresented population students be successful in K-12 education and matriculate successfully into challenging college programs. She has helped students in the community participate in engineering programs throughout Virginia. These students worked with Facebook, Google, and Northum Grumman. This past summer she recruited students to participate in the HR-STEM Summer Institute at Old Dominion University. These students had the opportunity to explore research involving cardiovascular disease and lactic acid buildup in athletes.
Ms. Morris afforded her sons these opportunities, and she wants to provide similar opportunities for other students.