ODU Names Virginia Beach Learning Commons in Honor of Meyera Oberndorf
Citing her tireless advocacy and her leadership in establishing the Virginia Beach Higher Education Center, Old Dominion University renamed the facility's information resource center in honor of former Virginia Beach Mayor and ODU alumna Meyera Oberndorf.
Acting President John R. Broderick surprised Oberndorf with the honor March 5 at a Women's History Month celebration and special tribute at the VBHEC. The Meyera Oberndorf Learning Commons, located on the first floor of the center, is the hub of student academic support services.
It was during Oberndorf's tenure as mayor that the city donated the land on which Old Dominion built the VBHEC.
"Meyera Oberndorf has been an incredible advocate not only for her alma mater, Old Dominion, but also for higher education in general," noted Broderick. "Her tireless efforts resulted in greater education opportunities for the citizens of Virginia Beach and sparked an economic development growth in the Princess Anne corridor in particular."
Oberndorf received a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Old Dominion in 1964. The university has also honored her with its Distinguished Alumni Award in 1995 and an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree in 1998.
As Virginia Beach's 23rd mayor, Oberndorf was also the city's first female and longest serving mayor, from 1988 to 2008.
During her time in office, Virginia Beach and the city government was recognized for a wide variety of achievements, including USA Weekends 2003 Best Place to Live; one of the five best managed cities in the country in 2000 by Governing Magazine; the number one city for women by Ladies Home Journal in 2002; the number 2 city for families by Child Magazine in 1999; and the 8th most efficiently run large city by the Reason Public Policy Institute in 2001.
Oberndorf was recognized by Newsweek magazine as one of the 25 Most Dynamic Mayors in the U.S. She was named Outstanding Woman of Virginia by the American Legion Auxiliary and the 1997 Newsmaker of the Year by Virginia Press Women. She was awarded the Women's Achievement Award by the Zonta Club of Hampton Roads in 2002.