Presidential search committee recommends Julie Sullivan, published report says

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The St. Thomas presidential search committee recommended Julie Sullivan to serve as the next university president, according to a Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal report published Monday.

If approved by the Board of Trustees, Sullivan would be the first female and lay president in St. Thomas’ history.  130211_Sullivan

Sullivan is currently the executive vice president and provost at the University of San Diego, a private, Catholic school in California. She joined the university in July 2005.

According to the University of San Diego, Sullivan oversees all degree and non-degree programs and support services, and is also responsible for the university’s operating budget, financial planning, financial and regulatory reporting, investment portfolio and debt structure.

Sullivan served as a professor at the Rady School of Management in San Diego from July 2003 to 2005, and was previously a professor at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill’s Kenan-Flagler Business School.

During her 17 years at Chapel Hill, Sullivan served as interim dean, Chair of the Business School Foundation Board of Trustees, Senior Associate Dean, Associate Dean of the Master of Accounting Program, Director of the Center for International Business Education and Research, and Director of the Center for Innovation in Learning.

Sullivan holds an undergraduate, master’s and doctorate in business and accounting from the University of Florida.

The University of St. Thomas would not confirm her selection. The Business Journal reported that Sullivan could not be reached for comment.

Doug Hennes, vice president of university and government relations, told the Business Journal that a vote is scheduled for Thursday, but he declined to name the candidate.

“The board is scheduled to consider the selection of a new president on Thursday, and we will have no comment until after the meeting,” Hennes told TommieMedia.

Sullivan was in the Twin Cities last weekend and met with St. Thomas leaders Feb. 4, according to the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal source, who asked not to be identified.