Vermont Business MagazineFollowing a highly successful six-year tenure as The University of Vermont’s 26th president, Tom Sullivan today announced that, after one more year, he will step out of the presidency in the summer of 2019.
“When the Board of Trustees extended an offer to serve as UVM’s president in February 2012, I was asked the length of time I could envision for this presidency. I knew the University was planning a major comprehensive fundraising campaign and the Board wanted its next president to lead a successful campaign,” said Sullivan. “Now with the University’s comprehensive campaign crossing over its campaign goal of $500 million, one year ahead of schedule, UVM is poised for its next era of reaching even greater academic expectations and aspirations. The time is right!”
Board of Trustees Chair David Daigle expressed great appreciation for Sullivan’s leadership:
“In 2012 the UVM Board of Trustees sought a president who could lead our community on a mission to improve the academic and financial profile of UVM. President Sullivan has succeeded in this mission, and our entire community owes him a debt of gratitude for his selfless service to UVM. Tom has led with a passion for students and higher education, with reasoned and thoughtful decision-making, and with unwavering integrity. Our University is unequivocally stronger as a result of his efforts and accomplishments.”
Sullivan stated that he is thankful for the way the University community responded to his call to “raise our expectations and aspirations to create an academic experience of the highest quality” during his installation address in the Fall of 2012. (See below the text of his announcement to the University community and also highlights of accomplishments during President Sullivan’s tenure.)
The University will begin a formal search process for a new president immediately, according to Daigle, with the goal of selecting a successful candidate by March of 2019. Comprehensive information about the search process will be shared with the entire UVM community, he said.
Comment of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) On Tom Sullivan’s Retirement as President of the University of Vermont:
“Tom Sullivan has been a remarkable leader for the University of Vermont. During his tenure the University has continued to grow while holding true to its founding as a Land Grant university, as shown most recently by the opening of UVM’s state-of-the-art Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Center. Tom shares the belief that income should not be a barrier to a good education. Because of his dedication to the education of all students, Tom was instrumental in developing the University’s Catamount Commitment, which promises Pell Grant-eligible Vermonters that the remainder of their tuition will be covered, either through grants, or waived by the University entirely. While we are sorry to see Tom go, we are glad that he plans to return to Vermont soon. Marcelle and I thank Tom for his service and we wish him and Leslie all the best as he retires next year.”