Spotlighting Supporters

How long have you been a member of the ODAF and why do you support ODU Athletics?

I have been a member of ODAF for over 17 years. ODU Athletics support is a way me and my wife thought was the best way to give back to the university in a diverse way.

What is your favorite memory of ODU Athletics?

My favorite memory is meeting my wife, Cheryl Jackson Tyler, in the school of Mechanical Engineering and often going to the basketball games and later to include football. Another favorite memory was outside of Athletics on our first date on campus that was starring a hypnotist. Although I couldn't get her to volunteer as a hypnotist candidate, she has me hypnotized for the next 30 years of our lives.

What do you enjoy most about an ODU Football Gameday?

What I enjoyed most is sharing memories with my wife, family, friends and Directors of the Cheryl Jackson Tyler Foundation (CJTF)!

If you could describe ODU in one word, what word would it be and why?  

The one word that describes ODU to me is transforming! It is the place that shaped and formed my career and family!

Is there anything else that people should know about you?

My wife and I gave back to ODU through UMEP as tutors for other engineering students led by Dr. Gregory Selby. Also, Dr. Robert Ashe (Emeritus) had a profound impact on our careers, especially Cheryl's Mars atmospheric research as a co-author at least and my research in MAGLEV and published work entitled Cryogenic Stability of Superconductors using the Steckly criteria. 

In honor of my wife the CJTF was founded in 2019 to support students in STEM and to bring attention to Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNCB). Our slogan is to Help Reach the Gifted and Keep them Lifted.