A little more than a week ago, Bonnie Cordon started her new job as president of Southern Virginia University, a private school aligned with — but not owned by — The Church of Jesus of Christ of Latter-day Saints and whose staffers and students are overwhelmingly members of the faith.
She represents the school’s first female president since it was reestablished in 1996 to cater to Latter-day Saints.
The new appointment comes soon after Cordon was released as president of the church’s worldwide Young Women organization, a post she held for five years. Before that, she served as a counselor in the faith’s Primary organization for children.
(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) President Bonnie Cordon gives her final General Conference address as head of the global Young Women organization in April 2023.
Cordon spoke with The Salt Lake Tribune by email about her goals for the liberal arts college of roughly 1,000 students and what she thinks makes it unique.
How would you describe your first week on the job? What have you learned over the past seven days?
Eye-opening. This university has been a revelation for me. What I initially considered good has turned out to be truly exceptional. Southern Virginia University is a hidden gem, and I’m enthusiastic about sharing the remarkable experiences it offers with others.
What role do you see SVU as playing in the larger ecosystem of Latter-day Saint-inspired higher education? What are the school’s particular strengths?
Southern Virginia University is a beacon of opportunity for students seeking a faith-based education aligned with the gospel of Jesus Christ as taught by The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints. What sets us apart is our commitment to small, interactive classes led by exceptional professors who prioritize teaching. This demanding yet nurturing approach shepherds students toward success.
Beyond the classroom, our students enjoy a wealth of opportunities, from NCAA Division III athletics to the performing arts. Our experiential and high-performance educational model excels in preparing students not only for graduate school but also for success in the professional world.
What specific goals or areas of focus have you set for your tenure?
(Southern Virginia University) Bonnie Cordon is pictured on the campus of Southern Virginia University, where she now serves as the school's 10th — and first female — president.
We are dedicated to enriching students’ opportunities for obtaining a distinguished degree that propels them toward success. Our mission extends to fortifying the university’s financial stability, drawing top-tier students and faculty, and constructing state-of-the-art facilities that elevate the learning experience. We are committed to keeping Christ at the core of all our endeavors.
In the grand scheme of things, the allure and triumph of our university hinges on the perceived worth of our degrees. Therefore, we are unwavering in our commitment to substantial investments in the excellence and rigor of our academic programs and their resultant achievements.
What would you say to any potential students considering SVU?
Come! We have a place for you. We want students with the courage and valor to be Knights!
You’ll learn in small classes from amazing professors. You’ll have opportunities to expand your talents. You’ll deepen your relationship with the Savior Jesus Christ and leave with the capacity to be wiser and smarter and have a greater impact on the world than any previous generation.
How have past experiences, including your work in church leadership, prepared you for this role?
Preparation happens line upon line. Experiences build upon each other, and one opportunity leads to another. Every experience the Lord has so graciously given me — from my corporate experiences to my recent church service — has helped prepare me for this role.
And I’m not alone. I’m surrounded by remarkable people here at the university and throughout the world who have a passion for higher education because of the impact it can have on the lives of students. We’ll all work together to help our students become smarter and wiser than any previous generation. They’re going to be the answer to so many of the world’s problems.
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