SVU Firesides
You want the best for your youth and YSAs,
You want the best for your youth and YSAs,
get the best.
Southern Virginia University is honored to send faculty, staff, and student leaders to speak at YSA conferences, firesides, and youth events across the country. Tell us about your event, and we’ll help you find the right voice and message for it.
Bringing SVU’s Mission to YOU
SVU exists to prepare young adults for lives of faith, purpose, and service. Our speakers carry that same mission to conferences and events sharing messages on discipleship, identity, and living a covenant life in today’s world.
Whether you’re planning a full conference or need a single speaker, we’d love to help.
Our Speakers
Aaron Hale
President
Brent Yergensen
Provost
Carrie Brotherson
Vice President of Student Affairs
James Ballstaedt
Vice President of Strategic Growth
Jared Covington
Instructor of Marketing
Todd Brotherson
Associate Provost; Associate Professor of Business; Business Management & Leadership Program Coordinator
Tyson Cooper
Vice President of Finance
Popular Topics
The Value of Education
Bring your loaves and fishes offering to the Lord; learn to recognize and follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost.
The Next Right Step
A simple framework for making life decisions. How to navigate opportunities by being an agent unto yourself while seeking the Lord’s will.
Using Social Media for Good
What are the principles that guide The Church of Jesus Christ’s use of digital media, and how can you apply these in your personal use of social media? Learn how you can apply the same guiding principles as the Church and use social media for good.
Faith, Finances, and Freedom
A practical, gospel-centered guide helping youth and YSAs master budgeting, avoid debt traps, make smart decisions about college/career funding, and build temporal self-reliance grounded in scriptural principles and general authority teachings.
Burying Our Weapons of War: Becoming Peacemakers in a Contentious World
Drawing heavily from President Russell M. Nelson’s landmark talk “Peacemakers Needed”, this fireside offers actionable ways young adults can forgo contention, communicate with charity, and choose reconciliation over polarization in their relationships, careers, and online interactions.
Leading Where You Stand: How to Be a Peacemaker in Business, Public Service, and Life
Combining practical lessons from municipal government, business ownership, and university administration with general conference teachings on peacemaking, this presentation shows youth and YSAs how to step up as leaders, solve complex problems, and influence their communities without resorting to contention.
Frequently Asked Questions
We recommend submitting your request at least 2 weeks in advance for virtual appearances and 1 month for in person events to give us time to confirm the right speaker and coordinate travel.
For events smaller than 100 attendees we can do virtual presentations. For YSA Conferences or larger youth events exceeding 100 we’ll happily travel to you!
Yes — you’re welcome to note a speaker preference on the request form. We’ll do our best to accommodate, based on availability. You can also request multiple speakers based on the size of your event.
We’d love to meet with you to understand your goals, help decide on the right messages for your youth or YSAs, and craft one especially for them.
After you submit your request, someone from our team will contact you within 1 business day.