View source for Norfolk State University

{{Short description|Public historically black university in Norfolk, Virginia, US}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox university
 | name                   = Norfolk State University
 | image                  = Norfolk State University Seal.png
 | image_upright          = 0.7
 | former_name            = Norfolk Division of Virginia State University (1935–1942)<br />Norfolk Polytechnic College (1942–1969)<br />Norfolk State College (1969–1979)
 | motto                  = '''On seal:''' "Achievement, Citizenship"<br>"We See the Future in You"
 | type                   = [[Public university|Public]] [[Historically black colleges and universities|historically black university]]
 | accreditation          = [[Southern Association of Colleges and Schools|SACS]]
 | established            = {{Start date and age|1935|09|18}}
 | academic_affiliation   = {{hlist|[[Oak Ridge Associated Universities|ORAU]]|[[State Council of Higher Education for Virginia|SCHEV]]|[[Thurgood Marshall College Fund|TMCF]]|[[Virginia High-Tech Partnership|VHTP]]}}
 | endowment              = $24.4&nbsp;million (2019)<ref>As of June 30, 2019. {{cite web |url=https://www.nacubo.org/-/media/Nacubo/Documents/EndowmentFiles/2019-Endowment-Market-Values--Final-Feb-10.ashx? |title=U.S. and Canadian 2019 NTSE Participating Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2019 Endowment Market Value, and Percentage Change in Market Value from FY18 to FY19 (Revised) |publisher=National Association of College and University Business Officers and TIAA |access-date=September 19, 2020}}</ref>
 | budget                 = 
 | president              = [[Javaune Adams-Gaston]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nsu.edu/|title=Norfolk State University - Norfolk State University|website=www.nsu.edu}}</ref>
 | academic_staff         = 247<ref name="facts">{{cite web |url=https://www.nsu.edu/Factbook-2013-2017.aspx |title= Fact Book 2013–2017 |publisher=Norfolk State University Office of Institutional Research |website=Norfolk State University |access-date=September 5, 2018 |format=PDF}}</ref>
 | administrative_staff   = 589<ref name="facts" />
 | students               = 5,616 (Fall 2019)<ref name="facts" />
 | undergrad              = 5,000 (Fall 2019)<ref name="facts" />
 | postgrad               = 616 (Fall 2019)<ref name="facts" />
 | city                   = [[Norfolk, Virginia|Norfolk]]
 | state                  = [[Virginia]]
 | country                = United States
 | coordinates            = {{coord|36.8487|-76.2625|region:US-VA_type:edu|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
 | campus                 = Midsize city
 | campus_size            = {{Convert|134|acre|km2}}
 | colors                 = {{college color list|team=Norfolk State Spartans}} <!-- same as athletics, automatically inserted -->
 | athletics_nickname     = [[Norfolk State Spartans|Spartans]]
 | sporting_affiliations  = {{hlist|[[NCAA Division I]] [[NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision|FCS]] – [[Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference|MEAC]]|[[Northeast Conference|NEC]]}}
 | mascot                 = Spiro the Spartan
 | website                = {{URL|https://nsu.edu}}
 | logo                   = Norfolk State University logo.svg
 | logo_size              = 170
 | free_label             = 
 | free                   = 
 | free_label2            = Newspaper
 | free2                  = ''Spartan Echo''
}}

'''Norfolk State University''' ('''NSU''') is a [[Public university|public]] [[Historically black colleges and universities|historically black university]] in [[Norfolk, Virginia]]. It is a member of the [[Thurgood Marshall College Fund]] and [[Virginia High-Tech Partnership]].

==History==

The institution was founded on September 18, 1935, as the '''Norfolk Unit of [[Virginia Union University]]'''.<ref name="AboutNSU">{{cite web|url=http://www.nsu.edu/about/ |title=About Norfolk State |access-date=January 12, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071230183917/http://www.nsu.edu/about/ |archive-date=December 30, 2007 }}</ref>  Eighty-five students attended the first classes held in 1935. Mr. Samuel Fischer Scott, an alumnus of Virginia Union and [[Portsmouth, Virginia|Portsmouth]] native, served as the first director with the primary focus of maintaining the solvency of the school. Dr. Lyman Beecher Brooks, a Virginia Union alumnus, succeeded Mr. Scott as director in 1938, and served as provost, 1963–1969, and the first president 1969–1975.

In 1942, the school became independent of VUU and was named '''Norfolk Polytechnic College'''.<ref name="AboutNSU" />  Within two years, by an act of the Virginia Legislature, it became a part of Virginia State College (now [[Virginia State University]]).<ref name="AboutNSU" />  By 1950, the 15th anniversary of the college founding, the faculty had grown to fifty and the student enrollment to 1,018. In 1952, the college's athletic teams adopted the "Spartan" name and identity.

The [[Norfolk, Virginia|City of Norfolk]] provided a permanent site for the college on Corprew Avenue, and in 1955 Brown Hall, formerly Tidewater Hall, opened as the first permanent building on the new campus. In 1956 the future Norfolk State College granted its first bachelor's degrees.

In 1969, the college divided from Virginia State College and was named '''Norfolk State College'''. The college was issued accreditation from the [[Southern Association of Colleges and Schools]] the same year with an enrollment of 5,400 students. In 1975 and the year following, the first master's degrees were awarded in Communications and Social Work, respectively. [[Harrison Wilson Jr.|Dr. Harrison Benjamin Wilson Jr.]], in 1975, succeeded Dr. Lyman Beecher Brooks as president after 37 years.

When the college was granted university status in 1979 by the [[General Assembly of Virginia]], it changed its name to Norfolk State University.

Norfolk State University celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1985 with a year of observances and with an enrollment of 7,200. In 1995 Norfolk State University's enrollment reached 9,112.

Upon the retirement of Dr. Harrison Benjamin Wilson in 1997, [[Marie Valentine McDemmond]] became NSU's third President in 1997 and served until her retirement. Alvin J. Schexnider became interim president in July 2005. [[Carolyn Meyers]] was selected as the fourth President and began service on July 1, 2006. [[Tony Atwater]] was announced as the new president in 2011 becoming the fifth president and served until he was removed by the board of visitors of Norfolk State University on August 23, 2013. Sandra DeLoatch the Provost and President of Academic Affairs was named acting president effective.<ref name="Norfolk State President Atwater Fired">{{cite web|title=Norfolk State board fires President Tony Atwater|url=http://hamptonroads.com/2013/08/norfolk-state-board-fires-president-tony-atwater|work=Virginian Pilot|access-date=August 24, 2013|author=Denise M. Watson|date=August 23, 2013}}</ref> On September 13, 2013, Eddie N. Moore Jr. was appointed interim president of Norfolk State University and started serving in that capacity on September 23, 2013.<ref name="Interim President Moore">{{cite web|title=Norfolk State names Moore as interim president|url=http://hamptonroads.com/2013/09/norfolk-state-expected-name-interim-president-today|work=Virginian Pilot |access-date=September 13, 2013|author=Denise M. Watson|date=September 13, 2013}}</ref>

In December 2013, the university was placed on probation by its [[Regional accreditation|regional accreditor]], the [[Southern Association of Colleges and Schools]], for "financial and governance issues."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2013/12/11/southern-accreditor-clears-virginia-fisk-florida-am |title=Southern Accreditor Clears Virginia, Fisk, Florida A&M |publisher=[[Inside Higher Ed]] |date=December 11, 2013 |access-date=December 24, 2013}}</ref>  The probation was lifted two years later.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2015/12/10/southern-accreditor-places-tennessee-martin-probation |title=Southern Accreditor Places Tennessee-Martin on Probation  |publisher=[[Inside Higher Ed]] |date=December 10, 2015 |access-date=December 10, 2015}}</ref>

Eddie Moore Jr. became the 6th president of Norfolk State University on January 10, 2016.<ref>{{cite web|title = NSU finalizes contract with former interim president|url=http://wavy.com/2016/01/11/nsu-finalizes-contract-with-former-interim-president/|website=WAVY-TV|access-date=January 11, 2016|first=Kevin|last=Green}}</ref>

Upon President Moore announcing his retirement in late September 2017 the NSU board of visitors named Dr. Melvin Stith as interim president. He assumed office on January 1, 2018. On June 24, 2019, Dr. Javaune Adams-Gaston became the 7th president of Norfolk State University after moving from her job as Senior Vice President for Student Life at [[Ohio State University]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nsu.edu/president-elect |title=President-elect {{!}} Norfolk State University – Norfolk State University|website=www.nsu.edu|access-date=March 22, 2019}}</ref>

In 2020, Norfolk State received $40 million from philanthropist [[MacKenzie Scott]] which is the second largest single gift in Norfolk State's history.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/norfolk/norfolk-state-university-receives-largest-ever-donation-of-40-million-from-philanthropist-mackenzie-scott/ | title=Norfolk State receives $40 million gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott | date=December 16, 2020 }}</ref> In 2025, she donated an additional $50 million which is the largest single gift in Norfolk State's history. <ref>https://www.nsu.edu/News/2025/Norfolk-State-Receives-$50M-from-MacKenzie-Scott</ref>

==Academics==
The Commission on Colleges of the [[Southern Association of Colleges and Schools]] has accredited Norfolk State to award associate, baccalaureate, master and doctoral degrees.<ref>{{cite web|title=Accreditation and Affiliations|url=http://www.nsu.edu/about/accreditation.html|access-date=November 25, 2008|publisher=Norfolk State University|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205095717/http://www.nsu.edu/about/accreditation.html|archive-date=December 5, 2008}}</ref> Currently, Norfolk State offers three doctorate and 15 master's degrees, including master's degree programs in [[electronic engineering]], [[computer science]], and [[criminal justice]]. The school also offers 36 undergraduate degrees, including the only undergraduate degree in [[optical engineering]] in Virginia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://typesofengineeringdegrees.org/schools/virginia/#context/api/listings/prefilter|title=Engineering Schools in Virginia|access-date=September 18, 2017}}</ref>

===Schools===
Norfolk State's undergraduate and graduate programs are divided into eight schools/colleges.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nsu.edu/schools/|title=Schools of NSU|access-date=January 4, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080106173019/http://www.nsu.edu/schools/|archive-date=January 6, 2008}}</ref>
* School of Business
* School of Education
** By 2004, NSU had a fast-track program for special education licensing.<ref>{{cite web|last=Walzer|first=Philip|url=http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=76364&ran=144587|title=NSU program aims to help license teachers for special ed|newspaper=[[The Virginian Pilot]]|date=October 4, 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041015160049/http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=76364&ran=144587|accessdate=April 14, 2021|archive-date=October 15, 2004}}</ref>
* College of Liberal Arts
* College of Engineering, Science & Technology
* School of Social Work
* School of Extended Learning
* Honors College
* Graduate School

==Campus==
[[File:VAMap-doton-Norfolk.PNG|right|250px]]
Located on the former site of the {{convert|50|acre|m2|0|adj=on|sp=us}} Memorial Park Golf Course, which the city of Norfolk sold to the school for one dollar, the campus now encompasses {{convert|134|acre|km2|1}} of land and 31 buildings.

[[File:Joseph G. Echols Hall Norfolk State University 2006.jpg|thumb|Joseph G. Echols Hall]]
[[File:Norfolk State University Lyman Beecher Brooks Library.jpg|thumb|Lymnan Beecher Brooks Library]]

The Joseph G. Echols Memorial Hall is a large health, physical education, and ROTC complex with a seating capacity of 7,500. Other facilities include a 30,000-seat football stadium; a television studio and radio station, an African art museum, and a multi-purpose performing arts center. Research facilities include a life sciences building with a planetarium and a materials research wing with crystal growth, organic synthesis, laser spectroscopy, and magnetic resonance equipment.

In September 2009, the New Student Center facility opened. The three-story building, which includes a game room, a dining area, a new bookstore, a wellness center (work-out facility), student lounges, and administrative offices, marks the first of two major projects for NSU.

In January 2015, the construction of the New Nursing and General Classroom Building was completed, and in the fall 2017 NSU opened a new G.W.C. Brown Memorial Hall, a three-story, 154,000-square-foot academic building, which houses the School of Business, College of Liberal Arts, and Mass Communication and Math Department. The building also houses the box office, costume shop, scene shop, mainstage theater, studio theater, amphitheater, as well as drama faculty offices, classrooms, meeting rooms, study areas, and student lounges. Construction of a new four-story residential facility began in 2019. Once completed, the 193,424-square-foot residential facility will include a central two-story amenity space and 740 beds for first-year students.

Construction plans for a new science building and physical plant are underway. Other recent construction on the campus include the new police station (2007), the Marie V. McDemmond Center for Applied Research (2006), and the Spartan Suites Apartments (2001), and state-of-the-art library (2012).

==Student life==
{| class="wikitable floatright sortable collapsible"; text-align:right; font-size:80%;"
|+ style="font-size:90%" |Undergraduate demographics as of Fall 2023<ref>{{cite web |title= College Scorecard: Norfolk State University|url=https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?232937-Norfolk-State-University|website=College Scorecard |publisher=[[United States Department of Education]] |access-date=August 18, 2025}}</ref>
|-
! Race and ethnicity
! colspan="2" data-sort-type=number |Total
|-
| [[African Americans|Black]]
|align=right| {{bartable|84|%|2||background:purple}}
|-
| [[Multiracial Americans|Two or more races]]
|align=right| {{bartable|6|%|2||background:violet}}
|-
| [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic]]
|align=right| {{bartable|5|%|2||background:green}}
|-
| [[International student]]
|align=right| {{bartable|2|%|2||background:#008080}}
|-
| [[Non-Hispanic whites|White]]
|align=right| {{bartable|2|%|2||background:cyan}}
|-
| Unknown
|align=right| {{bartable|1|%|2||background:grey}} 
|-
! colspan="4" data-sort-type=number |[[Economic diversity]]
|-
| [[American lower class|Low-income]]{{efn|The percentage of students who received an income-based federal [[Pell grant]] intended for low-income students.}}
|align=right| {{bartable|63|%|2||background:red}}
|-
| [[Affluence in the United States|Affluent]]{{efn|The percentage of students who are a part of the [[American middle class]] at the bare minimum.}}
|align=right| {{bartable|37|%|2||background:black}}
|}
The university offers organized and informal co-curricular activities including 63 student organizations, leadership workshops, intramural activities, student publications and student internships.

===Athletics===
{{see also|Norfolk State Spartans}}
[[File:PJ Derrick Wilson and Jamel Fuentes.jpg|thumb|right|130px|[[Norfolk State Spartans men's basketball]] players at the 2011 Paradise Jam Tournament]]
Norfolk State sports teams participate in NCAA Division I ([[Division I (NCAA)#Division I-Championship Subdivision|Football Championship Subdivision]] for all sports including [[Norfolk State Spartans football|football]]) in the [[Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference]] (MEAC). Norfolk State was formerly a member of the Eastern Intercollegiate Conference (1953–1960) and the [[Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association]] (1962–1996).<ref name="CFDW">{{cite web|url=http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_iaa/mideastern/norfolk_state/index.php|title=College Football Data Warehouse: Norfolk State Historical Data|access-date=January 3, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071104014651/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_iaa/mideastern/norfolk_state/index.php|archive-date=November 4, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The [[2011–12 Norfolk State Spartans men's basketball team]] won the [[2012 MEAC men's basketball tournament]] championship which gave them the conference's automatic bid in the [[2012 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament]], the school's first ever appearance in the tournament. The Spartans, a 15 seed, defeated the #2 seeded Missouri Tigers in the second round, 86–84. This victory was only the fifth time in NCAA Tournament history that a 15 seed defeated a 2 seed, with the last coming in 2001 by MEAC in-state rival Hampton.<ref name="ESPN">{{cite web | last=Info | first=ESPN Stats & | title=Who are the Norfolk State Spartans? | website=ESPN.com | date=March 16, 2012 | url=https://www.espn.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/54317/who-are-the-norfolk-state-spartans | access-date=September 20, 2021}}</ref><ref name="AP">{{cite web | url=http://hamptonroads.com/2012/03/norfolk-state-upsets-missouri-8684-ncaa-tourney | title=Norfolk State upsets Missouri 86–84 in NCAA tourney | publisher=The Virginian-Pilot (Associated Press) | work=HamptonRoads.com | date=March 16, 2012 | access-date=March 16, 2012 |author=Skretta, Dave}}</ref>

===Marching band===
[[File:Spartan Legion Band of Norfolk State University.jpg|thumb|right|Spartan Legion Band in 2006]]
The Spartan "Legion" Marching Band was founded in 1974. There are 230 members. The band performs at campus events and during some Norfolk State football and basketball games. They were featured performers in the [[Honda Battle of the Bands]] in 2007 and 2008. In 2018 they were featured in the official [[music video]] for the song Heavy Metal by [[French house]] act [[Justice (band)|Justice]].
The Spartan “Legion” performed at the 2023 [[Rose Parade|Tournament of Roses Parade]] in Pasadena, CA. 
<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8NHebm4nTY |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/l8NHebm4nTY |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|title=Justice – Heavy Metal (Official Music Video)|via=www.youtube.com}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

===National fraternities and sororities===
All nine of the [[National Pan-Hellenic Council]] organizations currently have chapters at Norfolk State University.  Additional other academic, honor, band, religious, and service fraternities and sororities are present on campus as well.

===Student media===

====Newspaper====
''The Spartan Echo'' is the official [[Student newspaper|student-produced newspaper]] of Norfolk State University. The paper is available in print (available twice a month) and on the web (updated daily).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spartanecho.org|title=Spartan Echo|access-date=September 21, 2015}}</ref>

====WNSB radio====
{{main|WNSB}}
Norfolk State operates [[WNSB|WNSB (FM)]] radio, which broadcasts in stereo 24 hours a day from the campus and covers all of the [[Hampton Roads, Virginia]], area, reaching the Eastern Shore of Virginia, northeast North Carolina and the [[Richmond, Virginia]], suburbs.<ref name="Studentlife">{{cite web|url=http://www.nsu.edu/currentstudents/studentlife/index.html|title=Norfolk State University Student Life|access-date=January 4, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071224143706/http://www.nsu.edu/currentstudents/studentlife/index.html|archive-date=December 24, 2007}}</ref> Established on {{Start date|1980|02|22}} and known as "Hot 91.1", WNSB's programming is also broadcast via the internet.<ref name="Studentlife" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nsu.edu/wnsb/about/index.php|title=WNSB Hot 91.1 = Norfolk State University|access-date=January 4, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080102235402/http://www.nsu.edu/wnsb/about/index.php|archive-date=January 2, 2008}}</ref>
{{clear}}

==Notable faculty and staff==
{{Category see also|Norfolk State University faculty}}

<!-- NOTICE TO EDITORS: DO NOT ADD PEOPLE TO THIS LIST WITHOUT A VERIFIABLE CITATION. Additions without a citation are subject to removal. If a citation link is broken, please replace it with one that works.

PLEASE DO NOT ADD NON-NOTABLE PEOPLE TO THIS LIST. A good rule of thumb is to check whether the person has an article on Wikipedia. If not, consider starting an article on the subject before adding him/her to this list.

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This list of notable faculty and staff contains current and former faculty, staff and presidents of the Norfolk State University.
{{Dynamic list}}

{{FacultyStart}}
{{Faculty|name=[[Na'im Akbar]]|dept=Psychology|nota=Clinical psychologist, prominent lecturer, and author on the psychology of Africans|ref=<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.naimakbar.com/index.cfm?pageId=3|title=Dr. Na'im Akbar|publisher=Na'im Akbar Consultants|access-date=January 4, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071214155634/http://naimakbar.com/index.cfm?pageId=3 <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = December 14, 2007}}</ref>}}
{{Faculty|name=[[Belinda C. Anderson]]|dept=History|nota=11th president of [[Virginia Union University]]|ref=<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Bates |first=Gerri |date=2007 |title=These Hallowed Halls: African American Women College and University Presidents |journal=[[The Journal of Negro Education]] |volume=76 |issue=3 |page=382 |issn=0022-2984 |jstor=40034579}}</ref>}}
{{Faculty|name=[[Anthony Evans (basketball)|Anthony Evans]]|dept=Athletic|nota=Current interim head men's basketball coach at Norfolk State University and former head coach at Delhi Tech (Delhi, N.Y.) and Ulster County Community College (Kingston, N.Y.)|ref=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nsuspartans.com/coaches.aspx?rc=10|title=Norfolk State Athletics|publisher=Norfolk State University|access-date=January 4, 2008}}</ref>}}
{{Faculty|name=[[Yacob Haile-Mariam]]|dept=Business|nota=Elected member of the Ethiopian parliament and a former Senior Prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda|ref= }}
{{Faculty|name=[[Adolphus Hailstork]]|dept=Music|nota=Former professor of music and Composer-in-Residence at Norfolk State|ref=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lib.odu.edu/musiclib/contemporarymusic/adolphushailstork/biography.htm#biography |title=Old Dominion University Libraries Adolphus Hailstork Collection Biography |publisher=Old Dominion University |access-date=January 4, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050101115348/http://www.lib.odu.edu/musiclib/contemporarymusic/adolphushailstork/biography.htm |archive-date=January 1, 2005 }}</ref>}}
{{Faculty|name=[[Robert R. Jennings]]|dept=Administration|nota=Current president of [[Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University]]|ref=  }}
{{Faculty|name=[[Yvonne B. Miller]]|dept=''Professor Emeritus''|nota=Democratic State Senator who represented the 5th Senatorial District of the Commonwealth of Virginia |ref=<ref name="Yvonne B. Miller - State Senator">{{cite web|url=http://www.senatorybmiller.com/index2.html|title=Yvonne B. Miller – State Senator|publisher=Yvonne B. Miller|access-date=January 4, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080218070927/http://www.senatorybmiller.com/index2.html|archive-date=February 18, 2008}}</ref>}}
{{Faculty|name=[[Steve Riddick]]|dept=Athletic|nota=Olympic gold medal winner and former Norfolk State University coach|ref=}}
{{FacultyEnd}}
{{clear}}

==Notable alumni==
<!--NOTICE TO EDITORS: DO NOT ADD PEOPLE TO THIS LIST WITHOUT A VERIFIABLE CITATION THAT ESTABLISHES THEIR NOTABILITY. Additions without a citation are subject to removal. If a citation link is broken, please replace it with one that works.

PLEASE DO NOT ADD NON-NOTABLE PEOPLE TO THIS LIST. A good rule of thumb is to check whether the person has an article on Wikipedia. If not, consider starting an article on the subject before adding him/her to this list.

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This is a partial list of notable alumni which includes graduates, non-graduate former students, and current students of Norfolk State University or predecessors such as Norfolk State College.
{{Dynamic list}}

{{AlumniStart}}
{{Alum|name=[[Willard Bailey]]|year=1962|nota=Former head football coach at [[Virginia Union University]], Norfolk State University, and [[Saint Paul's College, Virginia|Saint Paul's College]]|ref=}}
{{Alum|name=[[Gordon Banks (musician)|Gordon Banks]]|year=|nota=Guitarist, producer, writer and musical director|ref=<ref>{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p54009|label=Gordon Banks}}</ref>}}
{{alum|name=[[Kris Bankston]]|nota=Basketball player in the [[Israeli Basketball Premier League]]|ref=<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nsuspartans.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/kris-bankston/6109|title=Kris Bankston – Men's Basketball|website=Norfolk State University Athletics}}</ref>}}
{{Alum|name=[[Al Beard]]|year= |nota=Former [[American Basketball Association (1967–1976)|ABA]] player for the [[New Jersey Americans]]|ref=<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/beardal01.html|title=Al Beard Statistics|access-date=January 4, 2008}}</ref>}}
{{Alum|name=[[Ron Bolton (American football)|Ron Bolton]]|year=1972|nota=Former [[National Football League|NFL]] player for the [[New England Patriots]] and the [[Cleveland Browns]]|ref=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=BOLTORON01 |title=Ron Bolton Past Stats, Statistics, History and Awards |access-date=January 4, 2008 |publisher=databaseSports.com |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930153039/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=BOLTORON01 |archive-date=September 30, 2007 }}</ref>}}
{{Alum|name=[[Karen Briggs (musician)|Karen Briggs]]|year= |nota=Violinist|ref=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.divassimplysinging.com/content/briggs.php|title=Karen Briggs|access-date=January 4, 2008 |publisher=Diva Foundation |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070928000601/http://www.divassimplysinging.com/content/briggs.php <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = September 28, 2007}}</ref>}}
{{Alum|name=[[Chris Brown (athlete)|Chris Brown]]|year=|nota=Bahamian track & field sprinter|ref=}}
{{Alum|name=[[Don Carey (cornerback)|Don Carey]]|year=2009|nota=NFL safety for the Browns, Jaguars, Lions|ref=<ref>
{{cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/players/doncarey/profile?id=CAR080364|title=Don Carey Recent Games Career Stats|access-date=January 13, 2011|work=NFL.com}}</ref>}}
{{Alum|name=[[Eric Crozier (baseball)|Eric Crozier]]|year=|nota=Former [[Major League Baseball|MLB]] player for the [[Toronto Blue Jays]]|ref=}}
{{Alum|name=[[Bob Dandridge]]|year=1969|nota=Former [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] player for the [[Milwaukee Bucks]] and the [[Washington Bullets]]|ref= <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/dandrbo01.html|title=Bob Dandridge Statistics|access-date=January 4, 2008|publisher=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref>}}
{{Alum|name=[[Denise Dowse]]|year=1984|nota=Actress and director|ref=}}
{{Alum|name=[[Julian Earls|Julian Manly Earls]]|year=1964|nota=Ninth director of the [[NASA]] [[Glenn Research Center]]|ref=<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/feature/dr-julian-m-earls|title=Dr. Julian M. Earls|website=www.nasa.gov|access-date=February 19, 2020|publisher=NASA}}</ref>}}
{{Alum|name=[[Ray Epps (basketball player)|Ray Epps]]|year=1977|nota=Former [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] player for the [[Golden State Warriors]]|ref= <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/e/eppsra01.html|title=Ray Epps Statistics|access-date=January 4, 2008|publisher=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref>}}
{{Alum|name=[[Evelyn J. Fields]]|year=1971|nota=Former director of the Office of the [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] (NOAA) Corps Operations and the NOAA Commissioned Corps; first woman and first African American to hold this position|ref= <ref>{{cite web|author=Boyd, Charles E. |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3628/is_200102/ai_n8953095|title=Rear admiral Evelyn Fields, NOAA Corps, rises to a prestigious military level|date=February 2001|access-date=January 4, 2008|publisher=Black Collegian}}</ref>}}
{{Alum|name=[[Future Man]]|year=|nota=Percussionist and member of the jazz quartet [[Béla Fleck and the Flecktones]]|ref=<ref>{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p139736|label=Roy Wooten}}</ref>}}
{{Alum|name=[[Willie Gillus]]|year=|nota=Former [[NFL]] player for the [[Green Bay Packers]]|ref=<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GillWi21.htm|title=Willie Gillus|publisher=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=November 8, 2010}}</ref>}}
{{Alum|name=[[Elbert Guillory]]|year=|nota=Republican member of the [[Louisiana State Senate]] from [[Opelousas, Louisiana|Opelousas]], [[Louisiana]]; elected as a Democrat in 2007 but switched parties on May 31, 2013}}<ref>{{cite news|url = http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Elbert_Guillory|title=Elbert Guillory|publisher=Ballotpedia|access-date=May 31, 2013}}</ref>
{{Alum|name=[[Joshua M. Hall|Joshua Hall]]|year=|nota=State Representative in [[Connecticut]]}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Joshua Hall Biography |url=https://www.housedems.ct.gov/Hall/Biography |website=Connecticut House Democrats |publisher=Connecticut General Assembly |access-date=20 July 2024}}</ref>
{{Alum|name=[[Algie Howell]]|year=|nota=Politician}}
{{Alum|name=[[Jedidah Isler]]|year=2003|nota=First African-American woman to receive a PhD in [[astrophysics]] from [[Yale University]], in 2014|ref=<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scienceworldreport.com/articles/31302/20151018/jedidah-isler-first-african-american-woman-to-receive-a-yale-phd-in-astrophysics.htm|title=Jedidah Isler First African-American Woman To Receive A Yale PhD In Astrophysics|date=October 18, 2015|access-date=December 26, 2016 |publisher=scienceworldreport.com}}</ref>}}
{{Alum|name=[[Raymond Alvin Jackson]]|year=1970|nota=United States District Court Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia}}
{{Alum|name=[[Ray Jarvis (American football)|Ray Jarvis]]|year=|nota=Former [[National Football League|NFL]] player for the [[Atlanta Falcons]], [[Buffalo Bills]], [[Detroit Lions]], and the [[New England Patriots]]|ref=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=JARVIRAY01 |title=Ray Jarvis – Past Stats, Statistics, History and Awards |access-date=January 4, 2008 |publisher=databaseSports.com |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929111931/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=JARVIRAY01 |archive-date=September 29, 2007 }}</ref>}}
{{Alum|name=[[Leroy Jones (American football)|Leroy Jones]]|year=|nota=Former [[National Football League|NFL]] player for the [[San Diego Chargers]]|ref=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=JONESLER01 |title=Leroy Jones – Past Stats, Statistics, History and Awards |access-date=January 4, 2008 |publisher=databaseSports.com |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930140237/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=JONESLER01 |archive-date=September 30, 2007 }}</ref>}}
{{Alum|name=[[Pee Wee Kirkland]]|year=|nota=First-round NBA draft pick (1969, Chicago Bulls) and notable [[Rucker Park]] [[street basketball]] star; as a junior, he teamed with Bob Dandridge, and was named to the all-tournament team at the NCAA Mideast Regional in 1967|ref=<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/01/12/sports/the-legend-of-pee-wee-kirkland-grows.html |title=The Legend of Pee Wee Kirkland Grows|first=Vincent M.|last=Mallozzi|date=January 12, 1997|access-date=October 2, 2009|work=The New York Times Print Edition}}</ref>}}
{{Alum|name=[[Nathan McCall]]|year=|nota=Former reporter for the ''Virginian Pilot-Ledger Star'', the ''[[Atlanta Journal-Constitution]]'', and ''[[The Washington Post]]'' and the author of the best-selling book ''Makes Me Wanna Holler''|ref=}}
{{Alum|name=[[Yvonne B Miller]]|year=|nota=Democratic State Senator who represents the 5th Senatorial District of the Commonwealth of Virginia|ref=<ref name="Yvonne B. Miller - State Senator"/>}}
{{Alum|name=[[Alex Moore (running back)|Alex Moore]]|year=|nota=American football player|ref=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.profootballarchives.com/moor01000.html |title=ALEX MOORE |publisher=profootballarchives.com |access-date=October 11, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908223022/http://www.profootballarchives.com/moor01000.html |archive-date=September 8, 2015 }}</ref>}}
{{Alum|name=[[Kyle O'Quinn]]|year=2012|nota=[[National Basketball Association|NBA]] player for the [[New York Knicks]]}}
{{Alum|name=[[David Pope (basketball)|David Pope]]|year=1984|nota=Former [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] player for the [[Utah Jazz]], [[Kansas City Kings]], and the [[Seattle SuperSonics]]|ref=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.basketballreference.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=POPEDA01|title=David Pope Statistics|access-date=January 4, 2008|publisher=Basketball-Reference.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923192346/http://www.basketballreference.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=POPEDA01|archive-date=September 23, 2015}}</ref>}}
{{Alum|name=[[Ken Reaves]]|year= |nota=Former [[National Football League|NFL]] player for the [[Atlanta Falcons]], [[New Orleans Saints]], and the [[Arizona Cardinals|St. Louis Cardinals]]|ref=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=REAVEKEN01 |title=Ken Reaves – Past Stats, Statistics, History and Awards |access-date=January 4, 2008 |publisher=databaseSports.com |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929083730/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=REAVEKEN01 |archive-date=September 29, 2007 }}</ref>}}
{{Alum|name=[[Tim Reid]]|year=1968|nota=Comedian, actor, director|ref=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/R/htmlR/reidtim/reidtim.htm|title=Tim Reid|publisher=The [[Museum of Broadcast Communications]]|access-date=October 22, 2015|archive-date=October 18, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081018135907/http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/R/htmlR/reidtim/reidtim.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>}}
{{Alum|name=[[Randall Robinson]]|year=|nota=African-American lawyer, author and activist, who is noted as the founder of [[TransAfrica]]|ref=<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aaregistry.com/african_american_history/1475/TransAfrica_founder_Randall_Robinson___|title=TransAfrica founder, Randall Robinson . . . |access-date=January 4, 2008 |publisher=The African American Registry |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070930013039/http://www.aaregistry.com/african_american_history/1475/TransAfrica_founder_Randall_Robinson___ |archive-date = September 30, 2007}}</ref>}}
{{Alum|name=[[James Edward Roe]]|year=1995|nota=Former [[National Football League|NFL]] player for the [[Baltimore Ravens]] and [[Arena Football League (1987–2008)|Arena Football League]] player for the [[San Jose SaberCats]]|ref=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=ROEJAM01 |title=James Roe – Past Stats, Statistics, History and Awards |access-date=January 4, 2008 |publisher=databaseSports.com |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070220203231/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=ROEJAM01 |archive-date=February 20, 2007 }}</ref>}}
{{Alum|name=[[J.B. Smoove]]|year=|nota=Actor, writer, and stand-up comedian, best known for role as Leon on ''[[Curb Your Enthusiasm]]''|ref=<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.collegemagazine.com/editorial/2063/The-Comedic-Stylings-Of-JB-Smoove|title=The Comedic Stylings of J.B. Smoove|publisher=collegemagazine.com|first=Josh|last=Axelrod |date=January 14, 2012|access-date=March 21, 2013}}</ref>}}
{{Alum|name=[[Chandra Sturrup]]|year=|nota=Bahamian track sprinter; gold medal winner at the 2000 Olympics|ref=}}
{{Alum|name=[[Shawn Z. Tarrant]]|year=1998|nota=Member, [[Maryland House of Delegates]]|ref=}}
{{Alum|name=[[Andrew Warren]]|year=1993|nota=Former U.S. diplomat to [[Algeria]]|ref=<ref name="Norfolk State University">{{cite web|url=http://alumni.nsu.edu/?Authors |title=The Spartan Bookcase -Alumni authors |access-date=January 29, 2009 |publisher=Norfolk State University |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090217020850/http://alumni.nsu.edu/?Authors |archive-date=February 17, 2009 }}</ref>}}
{{Alum|name=[[Susan Davis Wigenton|Susan Wigenton]]|year=1984|nota=Federal Judge, [[United States District Court for the District of New Jersey]]|ref=}}
{{Alum|name=[[D'Extra Wiley]]|year=|nota=Entertainment veteran, producer and former MCA Records R&B artist for the 90s New Jack group [[II D Extreme]]|ref= }}
{{Alum|name=Dr. [[Eiesha M. Williamson]]|year=2004|nota=Professional NFL cheerleader, Atlanta Falcons 2015-2018 and Carolina Panthers 2001, 2010-2013; [[Beauty Queen]], Mrs. Georgia America 2014, Mrs. North Carolina International 2018, Ms. Black Virginia USA 2024 |ref=<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.panthers.com/news/panthers-select-2012-topcats-7418473|title= Panthers select 2012 Topcats|publisher=Panthers.com|access-date=February 9, 2024}}</ref>}}
{{AlumniEnd}}
{{Clear}}

==See also==
* [[Education in Norfolk, Virginia]]
* [[List of colleges and universities which have signed the Presidents Letter]]
* [[Sports in Norfolk, Virginia]]

==Notes==
{{noteslist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website}}
* [http://www.nsuspartans.com Norfolk State Athletics website]

{{Norfolk State University}}
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[[Category:Norfolk State University| ]]
[[Category:Historically black universities and colleges in Virginia]]
[[Category:Education in Norfolk, Virginia]]
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