Bonnie H. Cordon Appointed as New Leader at SVU

Southern Virginia University (SVU) marked a milestone on Friday, September 13, with the inauguration of Bonnie H. Cordon as its tenth president. This momentous occasion saw the largest gathering in the university’s history, with hundreds of notable figures from various sectors in attendance.

The event’s keynote speaker, Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, delivered a stirring address. Joining him were Brad R. Wilcox, a counselor in the General Young Men’s Presidency of the Church, along with a host of leaders from government, education, civic groups, and the Church.

President Cordon steps into her new role with an impressive resume. She previously led the global Young Women’s organization for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where she played a key role in launching the international Children and Youth program and growing the For the Strength of Youth (FSY) conferences, reaching youth around the world.

Since her appointment was announced in October 2023, President Cordon has quickly won over the SVU community. Students and faculty alike have expressed excitement about the direction she’ll take the university. As one professor put it, “I’m thrilled about what she may do for our school and for her leadership… She has years… of experience leading organizations far, far larger than our own. And I’m really excited to see what happens when she brings that experience here to us at SVU.In the months between the announcement and President Cordon’s inauguration, that confidence has solidified through countless interactions with students and faculty, both on and off campus. Audrey McKeon, who plays on the SVU women’s soccer team, commented, “I doubt there is a single student on campus over the last year who hasn’t had any genuine interactions with President Cordon.”

One professor noted that President Cordon testifies of Jesus Christ without hesitation whenever she speaks to the university, and that “nothing could be more important to higher education than encouraging young people to keep Christ at the center of their lives.”

Southern Virginia University (SVU), based in Buena Vista, Virginia, was founded in 1996 as a private liberal arts institution. While it is not officially affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the university embraces values aligned with the Church, offering a personalized education and a close-knit community atmosphere. Known for its commitment to building leaders of faith and character, SVU provides a variety of undergraduate programs that integrate both academic rigor and moral development.