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Southern Virginia University, sometimes dubbed the "Brigham Young University of the East," named a former Mormon general authority as its new president Friday.

Paul K. Sybrowsky, a member of the LDS Church's Second Quorum of the Seventy from 2005 to 2011, will take office June 1 at the school.

Though SVU has no official connection to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Sybrowsky, who was born in Salt Lake City, likely will feel right at home there.

The college in Buena Vista was launched by an independent group of Mormon business types; 93 percent of the students are Mormon; and its dress and grooming code mirrors that of the Provo campus — no beards or earrings on men, and modest dress for women.

Now the school is a nonprofit overseen by a board of trustees.

For nearly two decades, Sybrowsky has been a member of the Presidents' Leadership Councils at BYU and BYU-Hawaii. He also served for eight years as a member of the board of directors for Utah Valley University, including two years as chairman.

Before that, Sybrowsky had vast experience in international business. He founded the largest library services corporation in the world, Dynix, which he sold in 1993, according to a news release. At present, he is managing partner of Zions Hospitality Management, a hotel operator and management company, and consults with several businesses.

"Elder Sybrowsky brings a wealth of experience and success building organizations, raising money and helping universities reach their ambitions," Glade M. Knight, chairman of Southern Virginia's board of trustees, said in a release. "His leadership in the academic arena, business world and i n the church will bless the university, and especially the students."

SVU has 800 students from all 50 states, including 105 from Utah.

Sybrowsky said his main goal is for the school to reach its optimum size of 1,000 to 1,200 students and be self-sufficient. "We have been in the black for six years," he said in a phone interview, "but not in terms of tuition."

He also will work with SVU's leadership council on a capital campaign to build the campus infrastructure

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