Norfolk State University history

Scott was succeeded by Doctor Lyman B. Brooks in 1938.

But in 1944, an Act of the Virginia Legislature mandated and it became a part of the Virginia State College.

Within two years, by an act of the Virginia Legislature, it became a part of Virginia State College (now Virginia State University). By 1950, the 15th anniversary of the college founding, the faculty had grown to fifty and the student enrollment to 1,018.

In 1952, the college's athletic teams adopted the "Spartan" name and identity.

In 1956 the future Norfolk State College granted its first bachelor’s degrees.

The first four-year degrees were awarded in 1958 to 28 graduates in elementary education and business.

Extracurricular activities on the new campus began to resemble those of other colleges in 1962 when the college joined the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), and three sorority chapters and three fraternity chapters were established.

In 1969, the institution gained its independence from Virginia State University and was named Norfolk State College with Doctor Lyman Beecher Brooks appointed as its first president.

The master’s degree in Communication became the first graduate program offered at Norfolk State in September 1974.

Classes began in the Graduate School of Social Work in January 1975.

In recognition of its graduate programs and growing enrollment, the General Assembly approved a bill stipulating that the college would assume university status on July 1, 1979.

A new women’s dormitory was built on the west side of campus in 1982, and in the following year, a five-story administration building was completed.

Norfolk State University celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1985 with a year of observances and with an enrollment of 7,200.

The School of Business joined a very elite group by being awarded national accreditation in 1990.

The expansion of the campus necessitated the introduction of a shuttle bus service in 1992.

When the Ethelyn R. Strong School of Social Work began its doctoral program in 1995, only about 25 historically black universities in the country offered doctoral degrees.

Upon the retirement of Doctor Harrison Benjamin Wilson in 1997, Doctor Marie Valentine McDemmond, became NSU's third President in 1997 and served until her retirement.

In 2000, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) awarded the University a $2.9 million grant to conduct research on campus.

After eight years as president, McDemmond stunned the university community in March 2005 when she announced her intention to resign on June 30 for health reasons.

Doctor Carolyn Winstead Meyers was selected as the fourth President and began service on July 1, 2006.

After becoming NSU president in July 2011, Atwater wasted no time initiating programs designed to improve graduation rates and to develop a connection with the business community.

On September 13, 2013, Eddie N. Moore Jr. was appointed interim president of Norfolk State University and started serving in that capacity on September 23, 2013.

Eddie Moore, Jr. became the 6th president of Norfolk State University on January 10, 2016.

Upon President Moore announcing his retirement in late September 2017 the NSU board of visitors named Doctor Melvin Stith as interim president.

He assumed office on January 1, 2018.