Allen T. "Al" Wilson has been appointed by the Office of the Attorney General to serve as university counsel for Old Dominion University, following the retirement of Earl Nance after a decade of service.
As university counsel, Wilson will serve as lead attorney, providing expertise and guidance around all legal, policy and regulatory matters. He reports to ODU President Brian O. Hemphill, Ph.D., and will work directly with the Board of Visitors, vice presidents and academic deans, as well as other campus and strategic partners.
In an email to campus, President Hemphill wrote, "Al's legal mind and overall approach to our work are second to none. He is brilliant and brings a wealth of knowledge and deep experience to our institution!"
Wilson has spent nearly 20 years with the Office of the Attorney General, first as an assistant attorney general from January 2002 until his promotion to senior assistant attorney general in September 2015. His previous higher education experience includes serving as lead counsel to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia and Radford University.
Prior to his state service, Wilson was a managing attorney with a legal services firm, legal counsel in city government and a sole practitioner at his own firm. Wilson earned a J.D. from the University of Dayton in 1991 and a B.A. from Virginia Tech in 1988.
"I am honored to have an opportunity to continue serving the Commonwealth of Virginia and join Old Dominion University," Wilson said in a statement. "As I arrive on campus and in the area, I look forward to meeting my colleagues in the coming days, as well as our students, faculty and staff in the near future!"