Eileen Sullivan will serve as the interim vice president for student affairs effective July 1, 2019.
Sullivan’s selection to serve in the interim role reflects the significance of her work in partnership with Academic Affairs and others across campus in preparing for New Student Orientation and the implementation of the student success plan for the Fall 2019 incoming cohort of students. Given the high priority of continuing to make progress on the University’s goals established as part of the CSU’s Graduation Initiative 2025, Sullivan’s stewardship assures that student success efforts will maintain a strong trajectory during this period of transition, according to University President Soraya M. Coley
Sullivan has served as the interim associate vice president for student affairs since October. In this role, she oversees the Career Center, Orientation Services, Undeclared Advising, Tutoring and Mentoring Services, and Student Support and Equity Programs including the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), Renaissance Scholars, Summer Bridge, and the Veterans Resource Center. With over 25 years of experience in higher education administration, including 16 years in professional roles at the President’s Cabinet level at both public and private universities, Sullivan is highly qualified to provide interim leadership for the Division of Student Affairs.
Prior to joining Cal Poly Pomona last fall, Sullivan served as vice provost for student affairs at Grand Valley State University in Michigan (2016-18), where she supported 25,000 students, oversaw a division with 180 employees and managed a $64 million budget. Previously, Sullivan served as dean of students at Elmhurst College where she was the senior student affairs officer and Title IX coordinator (2007-16) with oversight of the Division of Student Affairs, Athletics and institutional retention efforts. Her past leadership roles include interim assistant vice president for student life at Northern Illinois University, vice president for student development of Loras College, and the chief of staff/principal advisor to the president of Bowling Green State University in Ohio.
As a scholar practitioner, Sullivan has served on the higher education faculties of two institutions. She taught student development theory and higher education administration in the Master of Leadership Studies program at North Central College and in the doctoral program in higher education and organizational change at Benedictine University. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Eastern Illinois University and her Ph.D. in higher education administration from Bowling Green State University. She is a graduate of the Harvard Institute of Educational Management and the Stanford Higher Education Executive Leadership Management Institute.
The search for a permanent vice president for student affairs will begin early in the fall semester.