Dear Members of the Old Dominion University Campus Community:

As Monarchs, we have experienced a range of emotions in the aftermath of a horrific tragedy that struck our campus a week ago today. I invite you, in your own way, to observe a personal moment of silence at any point today in reflection and unity of what it means to be Monarch Strong. With our collective and individual efforts to process and understand this senseless act of violence, we are grieving together. That important process will continue as we prepare to reunite this coming Monday (March 23, 2026) following Spring Break.

We continue to focus on honoring the life and legacy of Lieutenant Colonel Brandon A. Shah ’07. The family has announced a celebration of life service to be held this Sunday (March 22, 2026) beginning at 1:00 PM in Chartway Arena. This service, organized by the Shah family with support from Presidential Funeral Services of Portsmouth, is open to all Old Dominion University students, faculty, and staff.

The Army, in conjunction with Old Dominion University, is currently planning an on-campus event to be held on Thursday, April 2, 2026 with a traditional 21-gun salute, which is revered as the highest military honor and a symbolic ceremonial tribute. Event details, once finalized, will be shared with the campus community. I hope you will be able to attend what will be a touching tribute to Lt. Col. Shah, an Old Dominion University alumnus, who in every aspect of his life personified the Monarch values of integrity, leadership, and service.

I also want to recognize the cadets in the classroom. Their actions, under unimaginable circumstances, saved lives and embodied the very leadership and selflessness that Lt. Col. Shah instilled in them and so many others. They are true warriors and are to be recognized for their bravery and courage!

For many of you, this coming Monday will be your first time back on campus since the tragedy on March 12, 2026. It will be important to talk through this experience with each other. The University is offering in-person and online support resources, including but not limited to drop-in counseling in Webb Student Center. Please visit https://www.odu.edu/emergency/emergency-alert/support-resources for specific details.

As we prepare to come back together on Monday, we are also taking additional steps that reflect both the seriousness of this tragedy and our shared responsibility for one another’s safety. As part of our ongoing, comprehensive approach to campus safety and security that includes both established protocols and continuous evaluation, we will be asking all students to complete a brief questionnaire related to their personal history and campus awareness.

While this is not a routine step, it reflects our commitment to thoughtfully consider every appropriate measure that serves the well-being of our community. We will not hesitate to take additional or non-traditional steps when they are warranted to support the safety of our campus community.

Once again, I express my sincere appreciation to the entire community, which has responded to this horrific tragedy with an outpouring of compassion, resilience, and unity. We have rallied around the people and the University that we all care about deeply. And, with an independent review of safety and security to be conducted in the near future, we will have discussions about what else can or should be done, and I have no doubt that we will continue to learn and reflect together.

I would like to close by sharing with you one special aspect of Lt. Col. Shah’s remarkable story and long-lasting impact. When his assignment at Old Dominion University was set to conclude, he asked the Army to extend it, because he wanted to stay on our campus and continue to lead the cadets and the program he cared about so deeply. Without question, he made the ultimate sacrifice at and for our University, because this is the place he wanted to be, while leading and teaching the next generation. Indeed, that is the definition of a remarkable life grounded in sacrifice and service above all else.

As we move forward together, we cannot and will not simply move on. We will carry with us the incredible impact and lasting memory of Lieutenant Colonel Brandon A. Shah ’07. We will boldly and proudly honor his sacrifice, as well as the actions of the warriors who were in the room with him. We will strive to emulate the example they all set to be Monarch Strong, while we embark on a healing journey.

Forever Monarch Strong,

Brian O. Hemphill, Ph.D.
President