The following is a partial list of notable Southern Virginia University people. It includes alumni, professors, and others associated with

Southern Virginia University Southern Virginia University (SVU) is a private liberal arts college in Buena Vista, Virginia. The college, though not officially affiliated with a particular faith, embraces the values of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Ch ...

Presidents

Roy Kinneer Patteson, Jr. Roy Kinneer Patteson Jr. was an American scholar whose knowledge of Biblical Hebrew, Aramaic, Syriac and Hellenistic Greek enabled him to undertake an analysis of the text of the Ben Sira Scroll discovered at Masada in Palestine in 1964. His ...

, 1970–1972, Ancient language scholar; Ph.D. Duke University; Th.M. Duke University; B.D. Union Theological Seminary; B.A. University of Richmond. *

John Ripley John Ripley VC (20 August 1867 – 14 August 1933) was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to members of British and Commonwealt ...

, 1992-1997, U.S. Marine Colonel, Vietnam War combat veteran, war hero Designated Southern Virginia University in 2001. * E. Curtis Fawson, 1999-2003 *

Monte S. Nyman Monte Steven Nyman (October 16, 1929 – September 30, 2011) was president of Southern Virginia University (SVU) from 2003 to 2004. He had previously been academic vice president at SVU and a professor of religion at Brigham Young University ( ...

, 2003-2004 *

Rodney K. Smith Rodney K. Smith (10 May 1951 – 26 July 2020) was an American academic and the 6th president of Southern Virginia University (SVU) (2004-2011). After retiring from SVU, he served as a Distinguished Professor of Law and director of the Sports La ...

, 2004-2011 * Paul K. Sybrowsky, 2012-2014 * Reed N Wilcox, 2014–2023 * Bonnie H. Cordon 2023-Present

Faculty

* Jeff Benedict, investigative reporter/author * Orson Scott Card, author of novel ''

Ender's Game ''Ender's Game'' is a 1985 military science fiction novel by American author Orson Scott Card. Set at an unspecified date in Earth's future, the novel presents an imperiled humankind after two conflicts with an insectoid alien species they dub ...

'' *

Paul S. Edwards Paul S. Edwards is an American journalist and academic and previous editor of the ''Deseret News.'' As of 2019, he is the director of the Jack and Mary Lois Wheatley Institution of Brigham Young University (BYU). Education Edwards graduated from ...

Daniel J. Fairbanks Daniel Justin Fairbanks (born 1956) is an American biologist who was formerly a dean of Undergraduate Education at Brigham Young University (BYU). He is a specialist in biology who has written books on the subject. Early life and education Fairb ...

Ed Mulitalo Edwin Moliki Mulitalo (; born September 1, 1974) is an American football coach and former player. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He played college football at Arizona. Mulitalo earned a Super ...

, former American football player who played 10 years in the

NFL The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the major ...

and earned a Super Bowl ring with the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XXXV *

Debra H. Sowell Debra Hickenlooper Sowell is a dance historian and professor of humanities and theater history at Southern Virginia University. She retired as an associate professor of humanities in the Department of Humanities, Classics and Comparative Literature ...

, former secretary and board member of the

Society of Dance History Scholars The Society of Dance History Scholars (SDHS) was a professional organization for dance historians in the United States and internationally. Founded in 1978, it became a non-profit in 1983. SDHS became a member of the American Council of Learned So ...

Board of trustees

* Kent Colton, senior scholar, Harvard University Joint Center for Housing Studies; BYU Romney Institute Advisory Board * Ron Jones, chairman and CEO of Sealy Corporation * Ardeth Kapp, former general president of the Young Women Organization *

Chieko Okazaki Chieko Nishimura Okazaki (October 21, 1926 – August 1, 2011) was an American writer, educator, and religious leader. She served as first counselor to Elaine L. Jack in the Relief Society general presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latte ...

, former member of the Relief Society General Presidency *

Dave Ulrich David Olson Ulrich (born 1953) is a university professor, author, speaker, management coach, and management consultant. He is a professor of business at the Ross School of Business, University of Michigan and co-founder of The RBL Group. He has ...

, a writer, speaker, management consultant and university professor who in 2001 was ranked the #1 Management Educator and Guru by '' BusinessWeek''

Alumni

* Beezie Madden, an American

show jumping Show jumping is a part of a group of English riding equestrianism, equestrian events that also includes dressage, eventing, Show hunter, hunters, and equitation. Jumping classes are commonly seen at horse shows throughout the world, including th ...

competitor and Olympic medalist

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:List Of Southern Virginia University People