1970-1979
Mary Fleet as Coach of the Old Dominion Women's Swim Team, circa 1970-1979. Source: ODU Photographic Collection, RG 32, Special Collections and University Archives.
1970: Old Dominion imposes its first nondiscrimination admissions policy. Later versions of the policy make Old Dominion the first institution in Virginia to include sexual orientation in its policy
1970: Mary Fleet becomes the only woman ever to compete for an Old Dominion men's team when she joins the swimming team
1970: Stephen P. Shao is named Chair of Quantitative Sciences, located in the School of Business, becoming the first known Asian chair
Dr. Milton Reid, Board of Visitors member, circa 1970-1973. Source: ODU Photographic Collection, RG 32, Special Collections and University Archives.
July 1970: Dr. Milton Reid, a preacher and local Civil Rights activist, is appointed as the first African American member of the Old Dominion University Board of Visitors. He served on the board from 1970-1973
1971: Fran Mae Hermance, Health and Physical Education, and Marie R. Schindler, Nursing, are granted tenure and promoted to associate professor, becoming the first known female faculty to attain tenure
Dr. Dorothy Johnson, History Instructor, 1965. Source: ODU Photographic Collection, RG 32, Special Collections and University Archives.
1972: Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 is passed outlawing sexual discrimination in federally aided educational institutions and activities; African Americans make up approximately 2 percent of the student population
1972: The first credit course dedicated to feminism, “Women in American History,” is offered and taught by Dr. Dorothy Johnson
University News, 1972-10-06. Special Collections and University Archives.
September 1972: Jerome Nixon becomes the first African American ROTC Battalion Commander at Old Dominion
February 1973: Dr. A Rufus Tonelson, Assistant to the President for School and Community Relations, is named the first Affirmative Action Officer and Equal Opportunity Officer
September 1973: Rachael Freiler becomes the first female ROTC cadet at ODU
1973: During the 1973-1974 academic year, Students for the Development of Black Culture is founded. This student organization was founded to focus on the culture of African Americans and be an umbrella organization for all other African American student groups on campus
1973: Jose M. Alvarez becomes the first known Hispanic faculty member in the School of Engineering
1973: Lavoice E. Taylor becomes the first known African American Assistant Dean of Student Affairs
Christine Hufford and Lieutenant Crawford, 1974. Source: ODU Photographic Collection, RG 32, Special Collections and University Archives.
Delta Sigma Theta Group Photo, 1988. Source: Laureate, 1988, Special Collections and University Archives.
September 1974: Christine Hufford becomes the first female patrolwoman at ODU
September 1974: Julia A. Hines becomes the first female Controller in the Commonwealth of Virginia when she is hired for the position at ODU
1974: Delta Sigma Theta becomes the first African American sorority on campus
1974: The Women's Caucus, dedicated to the equality of faculty women at Old Dominion, is established
1974: Nina Brown, Educational Foundations and Special Programs, is granted tenure, becoming the first known African American female faculty member to do so
John A. Weese, Dean of Engineering, awards the first doctoral degree from Old Dominion University to D.K. Patel, May 1975. Source: ODU Photographic Collection, RG 32, Special Collections and University Archives.
1975: Old Dominion is among the first in the nation and the first university in Virginia to award athletic scholarships to women. The scholarship is named after Donna Doyle Smith, a standout athletic star at the Norfolk Division in the 1950s.
February 1975: The Eta Omega chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi is chartered as the first African American fraternity on campus.
May 1975: At the May 1975 Commencement, D.K. Patel becomes the first student to receive a doctoral degree from Old Dominion, a Ph.D. in Engineering. Patel, originally from India, completed all the requirements for his degree in August of 1974.
September 1975: The Kappa Gamma chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority is established on September 20, 1975.
Carolyn Rhodes speaks before the Faculty Senate on Title IX, 1976. Source: ODU Photographic Collection, RG 32, Special Collections and University Archives.
1976: Old Dominion becomes the first institution in Virginia, and one of the first in the country, to create a Women's Center to promote gender equality. The Women's Center primarily focused on serving older women returning to school.
1977: The Gay Alliance, a political organization dedicated to highlighting issues in the LGBTQIA+ community, is established at ODU
1977: The Women's Studies Program, the first in Virginia, is founded and Carolyn Rhodes from the English Department runs the program during its pilot year. The program becomes permanent during the 1978-1979 academic year. By the end of the 20th century, Women's Studies becomes its own department and offers a Master of Arts degree, a graduate certificate, as well as Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees
Alpha Phi Alpha and Alpha Kappa Alpha perform a step routine outside of Webb Center, circa 1980-1989. Source: ODU Photographic Collection, RG 32, Special Collections and University Archives.
1977: The Nu Theta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha is chartered.
1977: The Muslim Students Association is established
1977: Joyce H. King becomes the first female Chair of the Marketing Department. Marian L. Paulson becomes the Acting Chair of Philosophy, the first female to do so
Ebony Impact Gospel Choir performing at Webb Center. Source: ODU Photographic Collection, RG 32, Special Collections and University Archives.
1977: Ebony Impact, a social organization for African American students at Old Dominion, is established. The organization would later form a gospel choir that would perform at various events around the community
1977: Dr. Jerome Weiner, Assistant Professor of History, chaired the International Program Committee which helped establish International Programs in the fall of 1977
September 1977: Mary Maniscalo becomes the first female Army ROTC Battallion Commander at ODU as well as in the Tidewater region
Dorothy Doumar, left, with Thea Musgrave and President Alfred B. Rollins, 1979. Source: ODU Photographic Collection, RG 32, Special Collections and University Archives
1978: Dorothy Doumar is appointed Old Dominion's first female Rector of the Board of Visitors. A member of the Board of Visitors since 1972, she continues to serve until 1983
1978: ODU offers a master of art in international studies for the first time
1978: Anne S. Daughtery becomes the first female Chair of Business Education
February 1978: International Programs established the first International Jubilee to celebrate various cutures through food, dance, crafts, and other aspects of culture
February 1978: The Fellowship of Minority Engineers and Scientists is established
June 1978: The Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Policy and Plan for 1978-1983 was adopted by the Board of Visitors
Indian Students Association Group Photo, 2007. Source: Laureate, 2007.
1979: The Indian Students Association is founded
Ulysses V. Spiva, Dean of the School of Education, March 1979. Source: ODU Photographic Collection, RG 32, Special Collections and University Archives.
1979: Kristen Murphy becomes the first female graduate in Old Dominion's Civil Engineering program
1979: The Black Student Council, which oversees African American fraternities and sororities at ODU, is established
1979: Lucy R. Wilson becomes the first known Associate Dean of the Darden School of Education. Lindsay L. Rettie becomes the first known Assistant Dean for Health Programs, School of Sciences and Health Professions
1979: Betty Yarborough is named the first female Chair of Education Curriculum and Instruction. Judith S. Shapiro is named the first female Chair of Educational Foundations and Special Programs
January 1979: Ulysses V. Spiva from Florida International University in Miami, Florida is selected as Dean of the School of Education, becoming Old Dominion's first African American dean
Betty Diener, Dean of the School of Business, 1979. Source: ODU Photographic Collection, RG 32, Special Collections and University Archives.
July 1979: Betty Diemer becomes only the second woman in the U.S. to lead an accredited School of Business when she becomes Old Dominion's first female dean
Dr. Kenneth Gibson, head cross country and track and field coach, circa 1979-1980. Source: Old Dominion University Athletics Papers, RG 2-8, Special Collections and University Archives.
August 1979: Dr. Kenneth Gibson is named the head track and field and cross country coach, becoming the first African American head coach at Old Dominion