University’s Faith-Based Vision, Leadership Draw Dana and Anna Oaks to Southern Virginia
By John Gaughan
Southern Virginia University announced Friday that Dana Oaks will step in as its new Executive Vice President and Chief Advancement Officer in June. Oaks and his wife, Anna Morgan Oaks, will speak at Convocation on March 23.
Oaks currently serves as CEO of University Hospital and Medical Center outside of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. While his new position will focus on strengthening the University financially, he sees a larger purpose in it. “I believe so strongly in helping people be able to fulfill the mission of the gospel in the world, and everybody’s unique contribution in that. And I think SVU plays a significant part,” he said in a phone call Saturday.
Southern Virginia’s current Chief Adancement Officer, W. Todd Brotherson, will report in June as President of the Chile Santiago East Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with his wife, Carrie P. Brotherson.
Oaks sees helping others as the common denominator of his career in healthcare administration and his future role at Southern Virginia. An active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he looks forward to working in an environment where he doesn’t need to be guarded about drawing on Christ’s teachings to improve lives.
Anna Oaks is founder and CEO of Wellington Collegiate Academy, a private school that specializes in music for children between grades 5–8. The Academy will come under new direction in coming months as she prepares for a forthcoming role at the University.
If there was a pivotal moment that drew the Oaks to come to Southern Virginia, it was a visit from President Reed Wilcox, his wife Diane, and their daughter Rachel in early January.
As President Wilcox explained the vision of “Gather, Lift, Launch” in the Oaks’ home in southern Florida, Dana and Anna were impressed by both the message and the Wilcox family. “As we talked about the University and its direction I was very excited,” Dana Oaks said.
In the University’s announcement Friday, President Wilcox praised the Oaks for their professional accomplishments and commitment to the gospel.
“Dana and Anna Oaks and their family will be great additions to our University community. They are unusually successful, talented people with track records of meaningful accomplishment, which I believe reflects their positive energy and enthusiasm, exceptional leadership, and deep commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” he said.
