News Release
Bonnie H. Cordon Inaugurated as the 10th President of Southern Virginia University
Buena Vista, Va.—On Friday, Sept. 13, Bonnie H. Cordon was officially installed as the tenth president of Southern Virginia University, marking a significant milestone and the largest campus gathering in the university’s history. Hundreds of distinguished visitors attended the ceremony, including Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who delivered the final address.
The event featured welcomes from Provost James Lambert, Student Body President Kai Barton (‘25), Alumni Association Vice President J.D. Drasbek (‘16), and founder Glade Knight. The university’s Chamber Singers, Men’s Chorus, Bella Voce, Accolade, and Camerata Orchestra provided musical performances throughout the ceremony.
Special guests included members of the Knight and the Cordon families, President Emeritus Reed M. Wilcox, previous Interim President Eric Denna, Dixie Fawson (wife of the late president E. Curtis Fawson), the university’s board of trustees, leadership from the Virginia Military Institute, Washington and Lee University, and Mountain Gateway Community College. Brad R. Wilcox, counselor of the General Young Men’s Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and representatives and special delegates from other government, educational, civic, and church leaders were also in attendance.
The event closed with the choirs singing the American folk song “Shenandoah,” a beloved and longstanding tradition at Southern Virginia University commencements and other important institutional events since its establishment in 1996.
President Cordon previously served as president of the worldwide Young Women organization for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She led the organization through a significant season of growth and change represented, in part, by the implementation of a new, worldwide Children and Youth program and the significant expansion of For the Strength of Youth (FSY) conferences.
In her career, President Cordon has contributed to institutional boards, including the Church Educational System Board of Education, Brigham Young University Broadcasting, Humanitarian XP, the Boy Scouts of America, and the Church of Jesus Christ’s Missionary Executive Council, and has worked with civic, government, and religious leaders around the world.