Southern Virginia University, a small, private school that caters to Latter-day Saints, has tapped Bonnie Cordon, a former top female leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as its new president.
“I am thrilled with the honor and privilege to serve as the 10th president at Southern Virginia University,” Cordon said in a news release. “With its rich history of outstanding leadership, I am committed to building upon this university’s legacy with faith in Christ and wholehearted enthusiasm for the future.”
She added: “Together, we pledge to pursue an era of inspired growth, academic excellence and innovation as we strive to fulfill our extraordinary potentials and divine purposes.”
(Southern Virginia University) President Bonnie Cordon greets students on the campus of Southern Virginia University, a small, private liberal arts college "aligned with" but without any formal ties to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Located two hours west of Richmond, the four-year liberal arts college is unique in the world of higher education: a school “aligned with” the church “and its principles and values,” as stated on its website, but without any formal ties to the Utah-based faith.
Cordon’s background includes a bachelor’s degree in education from church-owned Brigham Young University, a period of management in the software industry and seven years as a general officer for the church — five years as president of the worldwide Young Women organization and two years as a counselor in the Primary organization for children.
During that time, she also served as a member of the Church Educational System’s board of trustees, charged with overseeing all three BYU campuses and Salt Lake City’s Ensign College.
Madison Sowell served as SVU’s provost from 2010 to 2016, during which he helped the school gain regional accreditation. He admitted that while it is “unusual” for someone without graduate degrees to take the helm of a university, he didn’t consider that disqualifying.
More important, he believes, is whom Cordon surrounds herself with and their collective ability to take on the challenges facing many small, private universities today, from funding to “telling and selling the story of what a liberal arts education can accomplish in a changing world landscape.”
Other top priorities he sees for Cordon are maintaining the school’s “all-important” accreditation as well as “the trust of senior leadership” in the church.
“We felt help from heaven and support from the campus throughout this process,” Laura Whiteley, trustee and chair of the Presidential Search Committee, said in the release. “The Lord truly has a plan for this university, and I am excited for President Cordon to help execute that plan.”
University Chair L. Hugh Redd said the school is in a “pivotal moment” in its history.
“Our board is united in its conviction that President Cordon is the right person to lead us now,” Redd said. “Her unique experience, along with her insight and understanding of the needs of today’s rising generation, particularly qualify her for this role. We are fortunate to have President Cordon leading us at this time and we are thrilled about this next chapter in our university’s legacy.”
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