Joanna Porter

Campus Voices

Little Monumental Moments

March 14, 2024 — The following essay was shared by the author at Southern Virginia University's Inaugural Founder's Day forum on March 8.

Speeches

Letting God Prevail: Executive Editor of Church News Sarah Jane Weaver’s Personal Witness

Sept. 11, 2023 — On Sept. 8, the Southern Virginia University community gathered for a devotional to hear from Sarah Jane Weaver, the executive editor of the Church News for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as she spoke on the miracles of letting God prevail in our lives.

Spotlight

Calling the Tune: How Three Music Majors’ Summer Experiences Are Cultivating Their Future Careers

Aug. 17, 2023 — With professors dedicated to Southern Virginia University’s mission to Gather, Lift, and Launch, Knights have the opportunity to receive personalized mentorship from their professors for their chosen careers. Through these professional relationships, several music students were connected to jobs and internships this summer that allowed them to further develop their skills as musicians.

Spotlight

Jaden Nelson (‘23) Receives Prestigious Phi Kappa Phi Fellowship to Pursue Dentistry at Tufts University

July 21, 2023 — The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines, recently awarded a $8,500 Fellowship to Jaden Nelson (‘23) to pursue a Doctor of Dental Medicine at Tufts University this fall. Nelson is Southern Virginia University’s second student to receive this prestigious award.

Spotlight

Jacob Adams (‘23) Receives Sigma Delta Pi’s Prestigious Gabriela Mistral Award

May 5, 2023 — The national collegiate Spanish honors society Sigma Delta Pi today awarded Jacob Adams (‘23) the Gabriela Mistral award. Founded in 1984 and named after the first Latin American to be awarded the Nobel Prize in literature, the Gabriela Mistral award is given to only a handful graduates and undergraduates each year who are active members of the Sigma Delta Pi honors society and have demonstrated noteworthy involvement and initiative in their chapter. 

Speeches

Glade and Kathleen Knight: The Inspired Beginning of Southern Virginia University

April 18, 2023 — On April 14, the campus community gathered to hear from University Co-founders Glade and Kathleen Knight as they shared memories of Southern Virginia University’s early days, its rapid growth, and their excitement for the future.

Speeches

Creating a Culture of Psychological Safety with Dr. Tim Clark

April 12, 2023 — On April 7, the campus community gathered for university forum to hear from organizational anthropologist Dr. Tim Clark. As founder and CEO of global consulting organization LeaderFactor and author of the best-seller, “The 4 Stages of Psychological Safety,” Clark spoke on the importance of creating psychologically safe environments and culture to allow innovation and growth to thrive.

Speeches

Organize with Your Religion and Save the World; Honors Forum with Dr. Melissa Wei-Tsing Inouye

March 14, 2023 — On March 10, the campus community gathered for a forum hosted by the University’s Honors Program to hear from Dr. Melissa Wei-Tsing Inouye. As an expert on Chinese history, historian for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and cancer survivor, Inouye spoke about the importance of organizing within one’s community and religion to lift one another in her address titled, “The Church as a Vehicle for Peace on and with the Earth.”

Speeches

Administrator of Seminaries and Institutes Chad Webb Testifies of Prophets in Southern Virginia University Devotional

March 8, 2023 — On March 3, the Southern Virginia University community gathered for a devotional with Chad Webb, Administrator of Seminaries and Institutes of Religion for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In a talk entitled, “The Voice of My Servants,” Webb spoke on the importance of prophets and the changing power of their inspired words and teachings.