Last December, right before Winter Break, I got an email with this message:
Dear Dr. Enilda Romero-Hall,
Congratulations on being selected as a 2026 Darden College of Education and Professional Studies Fellow!
Each of the college’s five academic departments nominates individuals who have received one or more academic degrees from the College for this honor. You were nominated by the faculty of the Department of STEM & Professional Studies because you have made significant contributions to the profession and distinguished yourself in your career. Your selection as a Darden Fellow was a unanimous decision. I hope you will be able to accept this honor and participate in the College’s celebration of your accomplishments along with the College’s other Darden Fellows.
This was completely unexpected. I had no idea that I had been nominated, which made the recognition even more special. Although I know the faculty who currently lead and teach in the Instructional Design and Technology program at ODU, the professors and academic advisor who supported me during my time at ODU have since moved on to other institutions or taken on different roles within ODU. Therefore, I was specially touched and happily surprised to learn that the current faculty had nominated me for this recognition.
To learn more about the 2026 Darden Fellows: https://www.odu.edu/education/darden-fellows-alumni-awards
A few months later, I had the opportunity to travel to Norfolk, Virginia and participate in a special ceremony at the Darden College of Education in the ODU campus. My visit to Norfolk brought back so many memories about my time in the Hampton Roads area. It was also wonderful to see my academic advor, Dr. Ginger Watson and to connect with the current IDT faculty.
A longstanding tradition, Darden Fellows are nominated annually by faculty in each of the College’s departments. Selected from a pool of 47,000 Darden College alumni, awardees are recognized for significant contributions to their professional fields and for exemplifying service and excellence in their communities. Beyond personal achievement and community service, Darden Fellows also highlight the impact that ODU’s education alumni continue to make in Hampton Roads and beyond.
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