Bonnie H. Cordon
Bonnie Hillam Cordon was sustained as Young Women general president at General Conference on March 31, 2018. She was released on April 2, 2023, effective August 1, 2023. At the time of her call, she was serving as second counselor in the Primary general presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, having been sustained on April 2, 2016. She was released one year later on April 1, 2017, and sustained as first counselor.
She was born on March 11, 1964, in Idaho Falls, Idaho, to Harold and Carol Hillam. Her father was an emeritus General Authority and served as president of the Portugal Lisbon mission. She served as a full-time missionary in Lisbon, Portugal, before earning her bachelor’s degree in education from Brigham Young University. She met her husband, Derek L. Cordon, at BYU and they married in 1986. They are the parents of four children.
She worked in management in the software industry until she was expecting her third child and she and her husband relocated to Indiana. After a move to Boise, Idaho, she returned to the business world, starting her own business. She was a school volunteer in Idaho and Utah, serving in PTA, the classroom and community council.[1]
She served with her husband as he presided over the Brazil Curitiba Mission from 2010 to 2013. She has also served in the Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary organizations, as well as a Seminary teacher.
While Cordon was serving as the Young Women General President, the Church announced changes to the Young Women program in October 2019, including the retirement of class names Beehive, Mia Maid, and Laurel; having local Young Women presidents reporting directly to the bishop; a new Young Women theme. There had also been a new activity program to replace Personal Progress announced previously. In 2019, Cordon participated in the first-ever 'Sister-to-Sister' question-and-answer worldwide live event as part of Brigham Young University's Women's Conference.[2]
Sister Cordon was part of the Face to Face event that introduced the new Children and Youth program in November 2019.[3] She was also part of the November 2020 Face to Face event with the Young Women General Presidency celebrating 150 years of the Young Women organization.[4]
Southern Virginia University officials announced on October 13, 2023, that Cordon had been named the university's 10th president effective immediately. University Chairman L. Hugh Redd said Sister Cordon comes to the position at a pivotal time in the history of Southern Virginia University. “Her unique experience, along with her insight and understanding of the needs of today’s rising generation, particularly qualify her for this role. We are fortunate to have President Cordon leading us at this time and we are thrilled about this next chapter in our university’s legacy.”[5]
