Chris Pendleton

Chris Pendleton is an Executive Vice President and the Chief Marketing Officer at Southern Virginia University. He supervises the University’s branding, creative, marketing, enrollment, student success, and sports information departments.

During the past five years, Pendleton has helped grow the University’s total enrollment more than 50 percent—making Southern Virginia one of the fastest growing colleges anywhere. He has also helped elevate the University’s brand by leading a complete update of the school’s brand assets and visual identity in 2017.

Pendleton majored in philosophy at Southern Virginia University where he earned academic honors as the Barrus Scholar and valedictorian of his graduating class. He also earned multiple honors as a student-athlete with men’s basketball, including ESPN First Team Academic All-American for his senior campaign.

After graduating from Southern Virginia University, Pendleton completed an internship at The White House in the Office of Presidential Speechwriting where he helped edit and fact-check presidential speeches and remarks. Following his time at The White House, Pendleton worked at Webster, Chamberlain & Bean—a full-service law firm for nonprofits based in Washington, D.C.—before returning to Southern Virginia University in 2010.

Pendleton served a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Germany and earned a master’s in communication with an emphasis in digital communications from The Johns Hopkins University.