Feature Story
A Legacy of Faith, Vision, and Growth: Celebrating President Bonnie H. Cordon
At the conclusion of her tenure as President of Southern Virginia University, SVU honors Bonnie H. Cordon and her husband Derek, who left an indelible mark on the University and the students it serves. President Cordon’s life is highlighted by her love for the rising generation — evident in her years of service in the Primary General Presidency and as Young Women General President for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and her unwavering commitment to helping young men and women build faith in Jesus Christ.
Under her leadership, SVU has experienced a season of remarkable progress.
A Clear Mission, Renewed
Cordon led the development and launch of a revised strategic plan, anchored by four priorities: Center on Jesus Christ, Increase Gathering and Belonging, Enhance Academic Excellence, and Build Financial Strength. Along with this plan, the SVU president’s council recently introduced new Knight Virtues, or core values. With a Christ-centered focus, Knights look upward with Gratitude, outward with Love, inward in pursuit of Wisdom, and are bound together in Unity.
“President Cordon’s unwavering commitment to Jesus Christ and His gospel will be the legacy of her time at SVU,” said Vice President of Brand and Technology Bryce Pendleton. “She embodies the Knight Virtues every day and exemplifies what it means to center on Christ.”
Financial Strength and Generosity
Under President Cordon’s leadership, SVU achieved a record fundraising year in 2025, raising more than any other year in the University’s history — reflecting 40% overall donor growth and a 48% increase in alumni giving compared to the prior year. The university also reduced institutional debt by 50%, a milestone that significantly strengthens SVU’s long-term stability. The University raised additional funds specifically for the Main Hall Preservation Fund in 2024, protecting one of the campus’s most beloved landmarks.
To build future financial strength, President Cordon oversaw the launch of long-term capital, endowment, and athletic endowment fundraising campaigns. She is also actively engaged with the City of Buena Vista to fund and construct a new residence hall — a development that will dramatically expand SVU’s capacity to gather and house students.
Academic Excellence and Growth
After SVU graduated its largest class in university history in 2025, Fall-to-Spring retention reached 90% in 2026 — the highest in the university’s history. President Cordon introduced two new academic programs during her tenure — Sport Performance and Environmental Studies — and is actively working with Mountain Gateway Community College and accreditors to launch a nursing major. She also helped secure a $250,000 state grant to increase experiential learning and internship opportunities for students.
To expand graduate school opportunities for students, President Cordon signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Southern Utah University to provide graduate school pathways for SVU graduates — expanding horizons for students after they leave campus.
President Cordon oversaw the development and implementation of a revised missionary deferment process — notably implemented just days before the Church announced changes to missionary age requirements for sister missionaries — ensuring SVU students called to serve can seamlessly return to the University after their mission. Currently, 150 SVU students are serving missions for The Church of Jesus Christ worldwide.
President Cordon also launched the President’s Service and Leadership Institute (PSLI), a program designed to cultivate the next generation of Christ-centered leaders on campus. PSLI brings together students committed to serving, leading, and making a meaningful impact — on campus and beyond. Members gain hands-on leadership experience through roles in student government, peer mentoring, resident advising, wellness and service councils, and student ambassadorship.
Forever a Knight
President and Derek Cordon have been a visible and welcoming presence across campus throughout her tenure. Both have regularly engaged with students in the quad and at athletic events, with President Cordon joining the crowd for the Men’s Volleyball National Championship and Derek a familiar face on the sideline at basketball games.
Derek also founded and dedicated countless hours to the Campus Beautification Committee, leaving a tangible mark on the physical landscape of SVU. Beyond those contributions, the Cordons have been known to take time with individual students — checking in on their coursework, their faith, and their friendships. That personal attentiveness has been a consistent feature of President Cordon’s leadership at SVU.
Student-athletes shared their gratitude in a tribute video premiered at the 2026 Knight Awards — watch it here.
A Gathering in the Shenandoah Valley
President Cordon’s legacy is defined by her love for students and her faith in the mission of SVU. Through her leadership, SVU has become an increasingly vibrant gathering place for the rising generation — a community where faith, learning, and belonging intersect in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.
SVU is deeply grateful for President Bonnie H. Cordon’s extraordinary service. Her vision, dedication, and love for this institution have laid a foundation that will bless students, faculty, and the broader community for generations to come.