Southern Virginia University’s board of trustees has unanimously selected Aaron Hale as the university’s 11th president, the school announced Monday.
Hale succeeds President Bonnie H. Cordon, whose term ends on May 6.
“This is an exciting and pivotal moment for the University,” said SVU Board Chair Wendy Kimber.
“Aaron’s experience building mission-driven educational institutions, combined with his personal commitment to our values, makes him an ideal fit for SVU. We are confident in his ability to lead Southern Virginia into its next chapter of growth and opportunity.”
Kimber expressed gratitude for Cordon’s leadership and service during her time at the university.
“We’re deeply grateful for President Cordon’s leadership and for the strong foundation she has built over the past three academic years,” Kimber said. “Because of her work, Aaron steps into a university community with real momentum, and we’re confident he’s the right person to build on that progress at this important moment in our history.”
Who is Aaron Hale?
Hale is a graduate of Arizona State University, with bachelor’s degrees in accountancy and computer information systems, and master’s degrees in business administration and information management.
The newly announced president has more than two decades of experience as a founder, CEO and organizational leader in education. This includes co-founding both Legacy Traditional Schools and Vertex Education.
Under his leadership, Legacy Traditional Schools has grown to over 30 campuses across three states and serves over 260,000 students annually. At Vertex Education, a management organization, he directed finance, operations, technology, growth strategy and capital markets.
Hale’s wife, Rebecca (Becky) Hale, who co-founded Legacy Traditional Schools and Vertex Education alongside her husband will join him at SVU. She was named as one of Arizona’s 50 Most Influential Women in 2025, while her husband was named one of Phoenix Business Journal’s “40 Under 40″ outstanding leaders in 2017.
Together they are the parents of 11 children and grandparents of four. The pair are deeply committed to faith-centered education and building institutions that will strengthen families and communities.
“We firmly believe that SVU’s best days are ahead, and we’re honored to be part of them,” said Hale. “A Christ-centered university, done well, is one of the most powerful forces for good in a young person’s life. Becky and I are excited to take what we’ve learned about building institutions, mentoring young adults, and leading with faith — and add it to a place that is succeeding at something rare and beautiful in higher education.”
SVU is a privately funded university in Buena Vista, Virginia, with around 1,000 students. It aligns with the principles, values and teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ but the church is not a sponsor.