John R. Broderick skipped a few of the traditional rungs as he moved up the academic ladder to become president of Old Dominion University. A onetime reporter who went to work at ODU in 1993 as director of public information, Broderick was appointed president in May after serving in an interim role for nearly a year. In a sense, he is still ODU’s chief spokesman.

Named the eighth president of Old Dominion University in May.
  Born: 1957 in Bristol, Conn.
  Career path: Vice president of institutional advancement and admissions and chief of staff to the president at ODU. Director of public information, ODU. Faculty member, University of Pittsburgh system. Administrator, St. Bonaventure University. Tourism director for the island of Martha’s Vineyard, Mass. Reporter for newspapers in Massachusetts and Connecticut.