A two-day conference in the Shenandoah Valley.
For two days each summer, Southern Virginia University plays host to participants from across the country who journey to this serene valley in the Blue Ridge Mountains to attend an extraordinary conference for Latter-day Saints. We invite you to come and enjoy the beautiful campus while being inspired and instructed by our distinguished speakers who will be joining us from across the country.
The theme of this year’s conference is “Journey to Higher Ground”. Organized and hosted by a committee chaired by Kathleen Knight, wife of the Southern Virginia University Board of Trustees Chair Glade Knight, the conference has become a tradition for many over the past 16 years. Don’t miss this opportunity to reconnect and recharge in a beautiful setting.
RegisterRegister for the 16th Annual Southern Virginia University Education Conference.
This Year's Presenters
Keynote Speakers
Dr. Madison U. Sowell and Dr. Debra H. Sowell
Dr. Madison U. Sowell is the provost at Southern Virginia University. He previously served at Brigham Young University as director of the honors program and associate dean of undergraduate education. From 1998 to 2001 he served as president of the Italy Milan Mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Sowell is a professor emeritus of Italian and comparative literature at BYU, where he was on the faculty for 30 years. He served as chair of the department of French and Italian for nearly a decade, was named an Alcuin Fellow, a Karl G. Maeser General Education Professor, and the Scheuber and Veinz Professor of Humanities and Languages. He has a bachelor's degree summa cum laude from BYU (1975) and a master's degree (1976) and Ph.D. (1979) in Romance Languages and Literatures from Harvard University, where he won the Jacoby Prize for scholarship and his department's travel-study prize for outstanding teaching.
Dr. Debra H. Sowell is a dance historian and professor of humanities at Southern Virginia University. She took a leave of absence as an associate professor of humanities in the Department of Humanities, Classics and Comparative Literature at Brigham Young University in 2011. Sowell received her B.A. cum laude and with High Honors from the Honors Program at BYU, where she majored in humanities and emphasized French literature.
She gained her M.A. in theatre history from Tufts University and her Ph.D. in performance studies from New York University, where she wrote her dissertation under the supervision of the distinguished dance critic Marcia Siegel. She danced with the BYU Theatre Ballet and later with the Cambridge Court Dancers, where she studied and performed Renaissance dance with Ingrid Brainard.
Elder John M. Madsen
Elder John M. Madsen is an emeritus member of the First Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He has been a general authority of the LDS Church since 1992. Prior to his call as a general authority, Elder Madsen served as a regional representative of the Twelve and a mission president.
He was president of the England Southwest Mission from 1970 to 1973. In 1992, Elder Madsen became a member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy. In 1997 he was called to the First Quorum of the Seventy. As a general authority, Elder Madsen has also served in the general presidency of the church's Young Men organization.
Virginia Hinckley Pearce
Virginia Hinckley Pearce is a bestselling author of A Heart Like His: Making Space for God’s Love in Your Life and Through His Eyes: Rethinking What You Believe about Yourself. She has edited and coauthored several additional books, including Glimpses into the Life and Heart of Marjorie Pay Hinckley.
She is currently a member of the board of directors of Deseret Book and was a member of the general presidency of the Young Women organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1992 to 1997.
David J. Ridges
Elder Ridges and his wife, Janette, are currently serving as full-time missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He previously served as a CES instructor for 35 years and taught at Brigham Young University Education Week for more than 25 years. He has given Know Your Religion presentations throughout the United States and Canada.
He is the author of 22 books, including study guides for Isaiah and the book of Revelation. He has served as a curriculum writer for both the Sunday School and the seminaries and institutes of religion of the Church.
Heidi S. Swinton
Heidi S. Swinton is an award-winning author and screenwriter whose works include the PBS documentaries American Prophet, Sacred Stone, Sweetwater Rescue, Trail of Hope and America’s Choir. She has served on the Relief Society general board and as a member of Church writing committees.
She is also the author of President Thomas S. Monson’s biography, To the Rescue. She served with her husband, Jeffrey C. Swinton, as he presided over the England London South Mission (2006–2009). They are the parents of five sons, four living, and have four daughters-in-law and six grandchildren.
Brad Wilcox
Brad Wilcox is a professor of education at Brigham Young University and also has been a member of the Sunday School general board of the LDS church.
He is the author of several books, including The Continuous Atonement, Growing Up: Gospel Answers About Maturation and Sex and Raising Ourselves to the Bar.
His popular speeches at such Church Educational System programs as Especially for Youth, BYU Women's Conference and BYU Education Week draw crowds of both youth and adults alike.
Jason F. Wright
Jason F. Wright, a New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USAToday bestselling author, has written ten novels including “The Wednesday Letters,” and “Christmas Jars,” which both appeared on the Best Seller list. Additionally, along with Glenn Beck, he co-wrote the number one New York Times Best Seller “The Christmas Sweater.”
He also has written articles that have been published in more than 50 newspapers and magazines including The Washington Times, The Chicago Tribune and Forbes. He writes a column entitled “Wright Words” for the Mormon Times—a section of the Deseret News. He has appeared on CNN, FoxNews, C-SPAN and on local television affiliates around the country.
Questions?
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