For three of Old Dominion University's newest department chairs, leadership is about more than advancing research and guiding academic programs. It's about supporting the people behind those programs and creating opportunities for the next generation of scientists.
Together, their departments serve more than 400 undergraduate and graduate students across mathematics and statistics, chemistry and biochemistry, and physics.
Yuesheng Xu, Ph.D. '89, chair of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics; Guijun Wang, Ph.D., interim chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; and Balša Terzić, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Physics, have taken different paths to leadership within the College of Sciences.
One returned to the university where he earned his doctorate. Another stepped forward to lead a department she has helped strengthen for more than a decade. The third sees leadership as an opportunity to give back to the colleagues and students who have shaped his career.
Together, they are building on their departments' accomplishments while preparing students for a scientific landscape driven by innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Yuesheng Xu: Coming Full Circle Through Mathematics
For Yuesheng Xu, leading the Department of Mathematics and Statistics brings his academic journey full circle.
Dr. Xu earned his doctorate in computational and applied mathematics at the University in 1989. His career later took him to institutions including Syracuse University, West Virginia University and Sun Yat-sen University in China.
Yet the mentorship he received at Old Dominion University has remained with him.
"Having walked these halls as a Ph.D. student, I know firsthand the transformative impact the University's faculty and academic environment can have on a career," Dr. Xu said.
Now, he hopes to provide students with the same opportunities that helped launch his career.
With decades of experience in computational mathematics and theoretical machine learning, Dr. Xu is focused on preparing the department for advances in artificial intelligence (AI).
The department has adopted "AI for Scientific Computing" as its theme for the 2026-27 academic year, encouraging research collaboration and bringing distinguished scientists to campus.
Dr. Xu is also supporting initiatives that combine traditional mathematical problem-solving with AI-assisted tutoring and personalized feedback to improve student success in foundational courses.
For him, technology and academic achievement are only part of the equation.
"At this stage in my career, leadership is about creating an environment where our faculty and students can thrive," he said.
Outside his research and teaching, Dr. Xu enjoys reading and writing Chinese poetry, a creative pursuit that offers another dimension to the mathematician and educator.
Guijun Wang: Building on a Legacy of Collaboration
When the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry needed an interim chair, Guijun Wang saw an opportunity to give back.
Dr. Wang joined the University approximately 14 years ago to help develop its chemistry doctoral program. Since then, she has witnessed the department's growth in research, academic offerings and student opportunities.
"I see the chair's role as an opportunity to serve the department as a whole and help faculty across different career stages and areas of focus succeed," Dr. Wang said.
Her approach emphasizes listening, shared responsibility and supporting the people who contribute to the department's success.
"We need to appreciate the experience and wisdom of colleagues who helped build the department while welcoming new perspectives and working together to shape its future," she said.
The department's recent accomplishments include major federal research grants, graduate student research publications and the launch of a forensic chemistry major in fall 2025.
Dr. Wang also sees opportunities to expand interdisciplinary partnerships, particularly in biomedical sciences, engineering and environmental science. The 2024 integration of Eastern Virginia Medical School with Old Dominion University has also opened new opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration in biomedical research.
For Dr. Wang, success also means ensuring students feel supported, respected and prepared for their careers.
"I want students to leave our department not only with strong knowledge and technical skills, but also with the confidence, professional experience and preparation they need to succeed in their chosen career paths," she said.
Outside her academic work, Dr. Wang enjoys gardening, especially growing orchids that bloom year after year.
Balša Terzić: Leading Through Service
Balša Terzić has a straightforward philosophy about his new role as chair of the Department of Physics.
"I see the role of chair as a role of service," he said.
Now in his 13th year at Old Dominion University, Dr. Terzić compares leadership to tending a garden or coaching a team, recognizing individual strengths and creating conditions where others can succeed.
"As department chair, I see myself as somebody who enables his colleagues to be the best they can be in this environment," he said.
His approach reflects an unconventional academic journey. Although Dr. Terzić dreamed of studying physics as a child, his undergraduate university did not offer the major. Instead, he studied mathematics and computer science, eventually pursuing astrophysics and accelerator physics.
That interdisciplinary background has shaped his belief in approaching scientific challenges from different perspectives.
Dr. Terzić is particularly enthusiastic about the University's astrophysics program. He said Old Dominion University is one of only three institutions in Virginia offering an undergraduate astrophysics degree, and astrophysics majors now outnumber physics majors within the department.
For students in Hampton Roads interested in black holes, cosmology and other areas of astrophysics, the program provides an opportunity to pursue those interests close to home.
"They get to stay right here in Hampton Roads," he said.
Dr. Terzić also remembers a graduate adviser who made time for him despite being an accomplished scholar and department chair. That experience shaped his commitment to creating an accessible, supportive environment for students.
"I'd like my students to be able to walk into my office, ask questions, wonder and question everything, and have access to us," he said.
Outside of science, Dr. Terzić takes the greatest pride in being a father to his daughter, Nina, who recently turned 15.
"I'm a pretty good scientist, but I'm a better dad," he said.
Different Paths, Shared Purpose
Dr. Xu, Dr. Wang and Dr. Terzić bring different experiences to their roles, but each recognizes that academic success depends on the people behind it.
Their priorities also reflect the role of academic leadership at an R1 research university, where scientific discovery, innovation and student opportunity are closely connected.
From exploring how artificial intelligence can transform mathematics education to expanding interdisciplinary research and introducing students to the possibilities of astrophysics, the three chairs are helping position their departments for the future.
And while their scientific disciplines differ, their approach to leadership shares a common purpose: creating opportunities for faculty and students to succeed.