Southern Virginia University President Rodney K. Smith will address the campus community on Friday, November 20, at a forum titled, “Why I Choose Southern Virginia” at 11 a.m. in the Stoddard Activities Center.

President Smith was appointed as Southern Virginia’s president in June 2004. Before that time, he served as interim dean and Herff Chair of Excellence in Law at the University of Memphis. He also has taught or served as dean at The University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Capital University, The University of Montana, The University of San Diego, Widener University and The University of North Dakota.

President Smith received his B.A. from Western Colorado State in 1973 and his J.D. from the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University in 1977. He then went on to earn his LL.M. in 1982 and his J.S.D. in 1987 from the University of Pennsylvania.

He and his wife, Danielle, have eight children, including two graduates of Southern Virginia, a current student, Georgi Ana, and their son, Charlie, who currently serves in the New Mexico Albuquerque Mission. President and Sister Smith enjoy spending time with their eighteen grandchildren, when they get the chance to visit.

Local community members and Southern Virginia faculty, staff and students are invited to hear from devotional and forum speakers in the Stoddard Activities Center each Friday morning at 11 a.m. Recordings of past forum and devotional speeches may be accessed online at http://svu.edu/speeches/forums.aspx.