Marloff to Retire After 36 Years with ODU’s Dance Program

Marilyn Marloff is retiring at the end of this semester. She has been with ODU for 34 years. Without doubt, Professor Marloff has had a distinguished career. She has served as Dance's Program Director for 30 of the 34 years she has been at ODU. She helped launch the Student Dance Association. She has taught 22 different classes, having created many of them from scratch for the program.

Marilyn was thrice nominated for University Professor. She has choreographed over 40 works and performed in more than 30 pieces. Her dance films The World of Dance (1991), Another World of Dance (1994), and Return to the World of Dance (2012) have won over 15 awards and have been screened at esteemed festivals including Canadian International Festival of Films D'Art, 1st Festival Internacional de Video de Buenos Aires, Stuttgart Filmwinter and Houston International Film Festival.

Department Chair Dr. Avi Santo, PhD, says of Marilyn's time with the Dance program, "I cannot put into words how appreciative I am for having been Marilyn's colleague these past 14+ years. She exemplifies qualities that I hope to model as both a member and a leader in our department. It is not always easy to strike a balance between advocating for your program and demonstrating an investment in the achievements and goals of others, but I have always found Marilyn to be genuine in her commitment to both ensuring Dance's success and in supporting her colleagues across the department's myriad programs. She is thoughtful, conscientious, and collaborative. She has gone above and beyond in helping to foster a sense of community among dancers and in making her colleagues feel like genuine stakeholders in the dance program's success. In this, her final year at ODU, which no one would ever question as one of the most difficult years we've endured, she worked tirelessly to ensure that the program could find innovative and safe ways for students to continue dancing and for its sense of togetherness to hold. I will miss working with her a lot."

The Dance Program's Associate Professor Megan Thompson, MFA, will be stepping into the role of Program Director. Thompson says, "I feel so fortunate to have had Marilyn as a colleague and mentor over the past 12 years. Her support and encouragement have been invaluable. From day one, she made me feel like an integral part of the Dance Program. For 34 years, Marilyn has worked tirelessly to make the Dance Program a vibrant and supportive place for both students and faculty. I personally owe Marilyn a debt of gratitude for her mentorship through the tenure process and her openness to my ideas and suggestions. In addition to her incredible dedication to the program, she has been a friend to all with her thoughtfulness, encouragement and playful sense of humor. It is an understatement to say that she will be greatly missed here in the department."

For Assistant Professor of Dance James Morrow, MFA, Marloff's enthusiasm, formidable spirit, and advocacy for the Dance program, its faculty and students are inspirational: "Marilyn has a joy for dance that is contagious. She is warm and approachable, and I have learned a great deal from her."

Dr. Santo sums up the feelings of faculty, staff, and students in the department, saying, "While I am saddened to lose such an inspiring colleague who has been such a fierce and dedicated advocate for the Dance program, its faculty and students, I really hope that Marilyn is able to enjoy her retirement knowing that she has earned it fully for her accomplishments."