Following the March 12, 2026, tragedy that claimed the life of a beloved instructor, injured two students and disrupted life and learning on Old Dominion University’s main campus, the Monarch Nation and broader community came together with love and care.
The journey toward healing began with the commendation of the brave cadets, who faced an unspeakable threat, and a ceremony honoring the life and legacy of Lt. Col. Brandon A. Shah (B.S. ’07) that was attended by hundreds of mourners on March 22, 2026.
Support services and signs of care and compassion were visible across campus as students returned from Spring Break that week – from Campus Care Stations where faculty, staff and professional healthcare workers offered reassurance and counseling resources, to Monarch Strong ribbons, bracelets and T-shirts to the ever-growing memorial of flowers, messages and painted rocks at the street entrance to Constant Hall.
“One of the things I’ve always loved about Ҵý is that Monarchs support each other,” said Maggie Barber, Ed.D., associate dean for academic programs and assessment in the Darden College of Education and Professional Studies.
Joy Himmel, Psy.D., director of the Office of Counseling Services, described the University led efforts as “psychological first aid.”
“It’s an approach that is trauma-informed, and it really helps students with just giving them space to identify how they’re thinking, what feelings they’re having and how they’re processing this information.”
Dr. Himmel coordinated with the Victims Crisis Assistance and Response Team (VCART), a part of the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services, which provided trauma-informed training to more than 200 faculty and staff. VCART staff were joined by over 500 mental health advocates and volunteers from across the state and the region. Kit Cummings, a counselor with VCART and a retired police officer, traveled from Roanoke, Virginia, to assist.
“They (the students) need to see faces,” he said at the Campus Care Station in the Batten Arts and Letters Building. “They need to know that it’s going to be OK.”
Volunteers came from higher education institutions across the Commonwealth of Virginia and North Carolina, as well as local public-school systems. More than 20 pet therapy groups also visited campus throughout the week, and some continued to visit through the duration of the semester.
Kim Millering (B.S. ’06) and her therapy black Labrador, Finn, drew new friends from every direction from their spot outside Webb Student Center. Millering said she was inspired to pursue therapy dog work based on her personal experience as a survivor of the 2019 Virginia Beach Municipal Center tragedy.
Dominion Rock near Webb Student Center became a place of reflection and remembrance, supported by the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) at Old Dominion University. American flags appeared from the ground and inspirational music played as students, faculty and staff left their painted handprints and memorial messages using supplies provided by the NCNW.
the April 2, 2026, Monarch Battalion Unit
Memorial at S.B. Ballard Stadium.
Support was also found at Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences Ellmer School of Nursing at Old Dominion University in Virginia Beach where psychiatrist and alumnus Justin Ray (B.S.N. ’06) visited classrooms and offered opportunities for private conversations. “Community is especially important right now,” he told students.“Please take care of one another, talk, listen and offer support. It’s essential to lean on each other during challenging times.”
The Monarch Nation gathered en masse on April 2 to honor Lt. Col. Shah during the Monarch Battalion Unit Memorial at S.B. Ballard Stadium. Army ROTC cadets and other members of Lt. Col. Shah’s cadre shared their admiration and appreciation for his mentorship, leadership and military acumen.
The ceremony included a 21-gun salute by the U.S. Army, the highest military honor, and the firing of Lt. Col. Shah’s “pride and glory,” a refurbished cannon called “Big Blue.”
“It will always remain a crucial part of his long-lasting legacy to Old Dominion,” said Sgt. 1st Class Logan Howard, who served as an instructor under Lt. Col. Shah. “So, from now on, every time you hear Big Blue roar across the Elizabeth River, you can thank Lt. Col. Shah.”
Sgt. 1st Class Howard said Lt. Col. Shah’s life was more than a collection of stories — it carried real weight. “He dedicated his entire life to his soldiers, cadets, family, friends and his country. And, in the end, he gave his life so that others could live. That is the legacy he leaves.”
