Pursue Your Dream as a Monarch!
The Division of Talent Management and Culture is pleased to announce the University Staff Dream Fund program. Privately funded through an Educational Foundation Endowment and first launched in 2008, this program provides monetary awards and/or paid time off for full-time Classified Staff and AP Faculty members to fulfill a long‐held dream. Some examples are pursuing studies in an area unrelated to work, traveling to another country, or visiting family far away.
- Full-time Classified staff and Administrative and Professional faculty
- Minimum of five consecutive years of full-time ODU or EVMS service
- "Successful" or "Meets Expectations" or higher on recent performance evaluation
- No active disciplinary actions
- State recognition policies apply
- Proposals are reviewed by a Screening Committee of representatives from across the campus community.
- A final selection will be made by the Selection Committee comprised of the VP for University Advancement, the SAVP/CHRO for Talent Management and Culture, and the Chief of Staff for Talent Management and Culture.
- Recipients will be selected on the merits of their proposal, their past service and promise of future service to the University.
Applications may be submitted via the 2026 ODU Staff Dream Fund Application. All applications and supporting documentation must be received no later than 5:00pm on Monday, September 14, 2026. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Applicants must submit an online proposal packet by the deadline. The proposal must include:
- A thorough description of the dream and the reasons for it. (Please note: Awards are not intended to address personal/financial hardships, emergencies or job-related professional development.)
- A budget/financial plan for achieving the dream
- A statement of intent to remain at Old Dominion University for the foreseeable future
- Letter of support from a direct supervisor and an ODU colleague.
Staff Dream Fund
Statement of Support - ODU Supervisor/Colleague
- Name of Applicant and Phone Number
- Name of Supervisor/Colleague and Phone Number
- For supervisor: How long have you supervised this employee?
- For colleague: How long have you known this employee and in what capacity?
- Describe how this employee supports the University’s mission, vision, values and goals.
- Describe the value of this employee’s impact on the ODU campus community and their community service outside. Include any committees or specific activities this employee has participated in.
- Has this employee described/discussed their dream with you? If so, what have they shared with you about their dream?
- How might the realization of this employee’s dream impact this employee and the work in their unit afterwards?
- For supervisor: If this employee is awarded the Staff Dream Fund, will you support the employee in scheduling time off to realize their dream?
- For colleague: Briefly explain how this employee's growth aligns with ODU's strategic plan of being forward focused.
Download letter of support from supervisor template ▶
Download letter of support from colleague template ▶
For assistance completing the proposal packet, email Ashleigh Boothe at aboothe@odu.edu.
The award(s) will be announced in October.
- Full-time Classified staff and Administrative and Professional faculty
- Minimum of five consecutive years of full-time ODU or EVMS service
- "Successful" or "Meets Expectations" or higher on recent performance evaluation
- No active disciplinary actions
- State recognition policies apply
- Proposals are reviewed by a Screening Committee of representatives from across the campus community.
- A final selection will be made by the Selection Committee comprised of the VP for University Advancement, the SAVP/CHRO for Talent Management and Culture, and the Chief of Staff for Talent Management and Culture.
- Recipients will be selected on the merits of their proposal, their past service and promise of future service to the University.
Applications may be submitted via the 2026 ODU Staff Dream Fund Application. All applications and supporting documentation must be received no later than 5:00pm on Monday, September 14, 2026. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Applicants must submit an online proposal packet by the deadline. The proposal must include:
- A thorough description of the dream and the reasons for it. (Please note: Awards are not intended to address personal/financial hardships, emergencies or job-related professional development.)
- A budget/financial plan for achieving the dream
- A statement of intent to remain at Old Dominion University for the foreseeable future
- Letter of support from a direct supervisor and an ODU colleague.
Staff Dream Fund
Statement of Support - ODU Supervisor/Colleague
- Name of Applicant and Phone Number
- Name of Supervisor/Colleague and Phone Number
- For supervisor: How long have you supervised this employee?
- For colleague: How long have you known this employee and in what capacity?
- Describe how this employee supports the University’s mission, vision, values and goals.
- Describe the value of this employee’s impact on the ODU campus community and their community service outside. Include any committees or specific activities this employee has participated in.
- Has this employee described/discussed their dream with you? If so, what have they shared with you about their dream?
- How might the realization of this employee’s dream impact this employee and the work in their unit afterwards?
- For supervisor: If this employee is awarded the Staff Dream Fund, will you support the employee in scheduling time off to realize their dream?
- For colleague: Briefly explain how this employee's growth aligns with ODU's strategic plan of being forward focused.
Download letter of support from supervisor template ▶
Download letter of support from colleague template ▶
For assistance completing the proposal packet, email Ashleigh Boothe at aboothe@odu.edu.
The award(s) will be announced in October.
Ebony Clark, ODU's 2025 Staff Dream Fund recipient, is all smiles as she's recognized for her inspiring vision. Her dream is to transform a cargo trailer into a vibrant, mobile learning space for children and individuals with special needs-a place where families can learn, grow, and thrive together.
Photo by: Douglas Gardner
2024 Staff Dream Fund Winner Cynlithia Williams, whose dream was to visit Niagara Falls and see her first real waterfall, pictured with Employee Relations Coordinator Brittany Dodson.
2024 Staff Dream Fund Winner Keesha Lewis, whose dream was to travel to Costa Rica, pictured with Employee Relations Coordinator Brittany Dodson.
Ebony Clark, ODU's 2025 Staff Dream Fund recipient, is all smiles as she's recognized for her inspiring vision. Her dream is to transform a cargo trailer into a vibrant, mobile learning space for children and individuals with special needs-a place where families can learn, grow, and thrive together.
Photo by: Douglas Gardner
2024 Staff Dream Fund Winner Cynlithia Williams, whose dream was to visit Niagara Falls and see her first real waterfall, pictured with Employee Relations Coordinator Brittany Dodson.
2024 Staff Dream Fund Winner Keesha Lewis, whose dream was to travel to Costa Rica, pictured with Employee Relations Coordinator Brittany Dodson.