Five alumni from Old Dominion University’s Darden College of Education and Professional Studies were honored as Darden Fellows during a luncheon held on February 26 in the multipurpose room of the Education Building.

A longstanding tradition, fellows are nominated annually by Darden College faculty. Selected from a pool of 47,000 alumni, awardees are recognized for significant contributions to their professional fields and for exemplifying service and excellence in their communities.

“I look forward to seeing more of your accomplishments and I hope you know that you are an inspiration to current and future students — to follow their passions, make meaningful differences and ultimately better the world,” said Tammi Dice, dean of the Darden College of Education and Professional Studies.

Beyond personal achievement and community service, Darden Fellows also highlight the impact Darden College alumni continue to make in Hampton Roads and beyond.

This year’s Darden Fellows are:

Department of Counseling and Human Services: Dr. David Julius Ford, Jr.

David Julius Ford, Jr., Ph.D. (Ph.D. ’14) holds a B.A. in psychology and an M.A. in clinical mental health counseling, both from Wake Forest University. In May 2014, he earned his doctorate in counselor education and supervision at Old Dominion University. Dr. Ford is fully licensed in North Carolina, Virginia and New Jersey. He is certified by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) and Approved Clinical Supervisor. Dr. Ford taught for four years at James Madison University and is now a tenured associate professor and department chair in the Department of Professional Counseling at Monmouth University, where he is in his eighth-year of teaching. He has held several leadership positions in the American Counseling Association and on two journals’ editorial boards. Dr. Ford’s professional interests are Black Greek life; Black men in higher education; career counseling; addictions counseling; supervision; qualitative research; queer and trans BIPOC; and persons living with HIV/AIDS. He is one of 24 inaugural doctoral fellows of the NBCC Minority Fellowship Program. He is the 2020 recipient of the Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development (AMCD) Samuel H. Johnson Distinguished Service Award and the 2020 ACES Outstanding Counselor Education and Supervision Article Award. Dr. Ford is a classically trained pianist and is a proud, active, and financial member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.

“The department of counseling and human services is where I learned to be me. I’m very thankful for the training and mentorship I received in my program,” Dr. Ford said.

Department of Educational Leadership and Workforce Development: Dr. Pietro Sasso

Pietro Sasso, Ph.D. (Ph.D. ’12) is an associate professor of higher education at Delaware State University. He earned his doctorate in higher education from Old Dominion University in 2012. His research centers student voices, student success and educational equity within the college experience. Dr. Sasso authored more than 100 scholarly publications, including 11 co-edited books, and delivered over 130 conference presentations. His work was recognized by national professional associations, including ACPA - College Student Educators International and the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors (AFA), and he is currently a faculty research fellow with Penn State University’s Timothy J. Piazza Center for Fraternity and Sorority Research.

“ODU follows you and the stories and memories you make here follow you, too. The research impact and innovation I’ve experienced here made me a scholar,” Dr. Sasso said.

Department of Human Movement Studies and Special Education: Dr Annemarie Horn

Annemarie L. Horn, Ph.D. (M.S.Ed ’08, Ph.D. ’17) is an assistant professor of special education at Radford University and coordinator of the Blindness and Visual Impairment Graduate Program. She earned her M.S.Ed in special education in 2008 and her Ph.D. in special education from Old Dominion University in 2017. A first-generation college graduate, Dr. Horn began her career as a paraeducator before becoming a special education teacher and, ultimately, university faculty. Her research focuses on professional learning for paraeducators and special education teachers, with an emphasis on using technology — particularly eCoaching and bug-in-ear support — to strengthen evidence-based instructional practice, especially in rural communities. Dr. Horn has published more than 30 refereed journal articles, received multiple national awards for her scholarship, and currently serves as president-elect of the American Council on Rural Special Education.

“My master’s program was the stepping stone into my Ph.D. studies. Even more than what I learned in my classes, one of the main things I’ve learned from ODU and from my faculty and mentors is that ‘We’re here for you.’ The support I’ve received here is unmatched,” Dr. Horn said.

Department of STEM Education and Professional Studies: Dr. Enilda Romero-Hall

Enilda Romero-Hall (Ph.D., ’13) is an associate professor in the Learning, Design, and Technology program at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She earned her doctorate in instructional design and technology from Old Dominion University in 2013. An award-winning scholar, Dr. Romero-Hall has published two edited books and more than 40 scholarly works and has delivered over 60 peer-reviewed presentations at regional, national and international conferences. Born and raised in Panama, she brings a global and equity-centered perspective to her work in teaching and learning with technology. In addition to her research, Dr. Romero-Hall is deeply engaged in professional service, including serving on the editorial team for the Feminist Pedagogy for Teaching Online digital guide and as Awards Chair for the American Education Research Association (AERA) Special Interest Group on Instructional Technology.

Reflecting on her time at the University, Dr. Romero-Hall said, “Like many international students, I came to Old Dominion University looking for a degree, and got so much more than that. It’s wonderful to be a Monarch. Everything I’ve learned from ODU has shaped me into the person I am today and has allowed me to better serve my field.”

Department of Teaching & Learning: Dr. Mark Diacopolous

Mark Diacopoulos, Ph.D., (M.S.Ed. ’07, Ph.D. ’18) is an educator with more than three decades of experience in teaching, teacher education and academic leadership. He earned two degrees from Old Dominion University: a M.S.Ed. in secondary education in 2007 and a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction in 2018. Dr. Diacopoulos began his career teaching high school history in England before continuing his work in Virginia as a middle and high school social studies teacher and soccer coach. His passion for inquiry-based teaching and educational technology led him into roles as a technology specialist and social studies coordinator while completing his doctoral studies. He later served as a teacher educator in curriculum design and social studies methods and developed a strong research agenda focused on teacher education, technology integration, and educator identity. Dr. Diacopoulos is an active mentor and scholar in the field and currently serves as assistant provost at Pittsburg State University in Kansas, where he oversees accreditation, assessment and program review.

“Being here at ODU changed how I thought about education,” Dr. Diacopolous said. “Education is not something you do to people — it’s what you do for people. Being a Monarch changed my direction. I didn’t come here expecting to become the scholar I am today, but I have nothing but thanks and admiration for the people I worked with on campus.”