In March 2026, a shooting on ODU's campus fatally wounded an Army ROTC instructor and injured two cadets. In the recovery that followed, my team created Monarch Strong, a unifying visual identity made freely available across the university and the surrounding community so anyone who wanted to express solidarity had a shared way to do it.

It appeared on campus monitors, on the marquees at Chartway Arena and Waitzer Hall, and on ribbons and wristbands worn by students and volunteers. Three regional media partners, Adams, Kenjoh and Lamar, carried the message on 34 donated billboards across Hampton Roads. We collaborated with University Licensing to produce Monarch Strong merchandise, directing proceeds to the Army ROTC fund.

A brand is most tested when an institution is grieving. Monarch Strong gave a community a way to stand together.