Since opening in 2016, “the College of Humanities and Behavioral Building has suffered from one thing, a proper name,” Dean Matthew J. Smith said at the ceremony, according to a press release from university. “Today Radford University completes this structure by naming it in honor of the University’s seventh president, Dr. Brian O. Hemphill.”

Hemphill announced in February that he was leaving Radford, effective next week, after five years as head of the University, to become president of Old Dominion University.

In April, the Radford University Visitors Council unanimously approved a resolution to honor President Hemphill’s contributions to further education, research and service by naming the building in his honor.

The Board of Directors also announced the creation of the President Brian O. Hemphill Student Scholarship Fund, which will provide opportunities for future generations of Highlanders.

Under Hemphill’s leadership, Radford University had the highest enrollment in its history, with 11,870 in fall 2019; the highest number of graduate enrollments in its history, with 3,903 in fall 2019; the highest percentage of first-generation students in its history, at 39% in fall 2019; the newest freshman applications in its history, with 16,138 in fall 2019; the highest average GPA in its history, at 3.32 in fall 2020; and the highest number of degrees awarded each year in its history, at 2,430 in the 2019-2020 academic year, the statement said.