President's Page

A Note from your Alumni Association President

                                                                

Happy New Year!  While we are feverishly reflecting on the past year and making New Year’s resolutions, I thought I would share some of the first half of 07-08 occurrences of ODUAA.

I am grateful for your strong support of ODUAA and me, as the president of ODUAA.  Six months, halfway through the year of 07-08, we are moving toward our goal and creating some significant milestones while cultivating relationships. 

  • A highly attended, engaging retreat 
  • Re-activated and implemented the strategic and implementation plans
  • Welcoming remarks by ODUAA President at Convocation
  • A well-organized football kickoff tailgate event in Town Point Park
  • An ODUAA Homecoming basketball game reception
  • Distributed 1,000 T-shirts to students during Homecoming weekend
  • Increasing requests for ODUAA representatives at campus events
  • Designed and distributed a board pin to board members
  • Initiated and sponsored an advanced degree commencement reception
  • Re-defined and implemented the Academic Funding program
  • First organized ODU Legislative Caucus meeting in Richmond
  • Recognition of ODUAA and introduction of ODUAA President by Dr. Runte during December Commencement Ceremonies (This is the first ever occurrence!)

For the remainder of our year, we will continue to work diligently toward our goal in assisting the advancement of ODU, planning for Homecoming ‘09, developing new chapters, recruiting new talents for our board…….  ODU is in an exciting phase with a remarkable enrollment growth, campus expansion, and en route to becoming a top 100 public research university.  With Dr. Runte’s superb leadership, affectionate persona, and kind and caring attitude, she has taken ODU to a new height in our community, in the commonwealth, and in the world.  As an alumna of ODU, I am very proud of our President. 

 

Although we will miss her and are dismayed by her decision to become president of Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada on July 1, 2008, Dr. Runte has made enormous accomplishments during her administration in the last six plus years and is a great supporter of ODUAA.  She leaves our alma mater in the direction to achieve more and to go further and beyond. 

 

We wish President Runte well and will look for ways to say farewell to her in the upcoming months.  The Alumni Association will provide assistance and support to the search of our next president as much as needed.

 

ODUAA has ample opportunities to be joyous for this New Year.  I wish all of you a healthy and prosperous 2008 and look forward to sharing and rejoicing in our future accomplishments in the months to come.  Happy New Year!

 

Shewling Moy Wong '87

President, ODUAA