For Immediate Release
CONTACT:
Morgan Alexander
media@AGB.org
202-776-0853
WASHINGTON, DC (February 29, 2024)—The Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB) announced today that Marie Sullivan and Tom Sullivan (no relation) were elected to the AGB Board of Directors, joining 15 other distinguished leaders. AGB is the premier organization advocating strategic board governance in higher education.
“I am excited that Marie and Tom will volunteer their time and talent to AGB’s leadership,” said Beverly Seay, chair of the AGB Board of Directors. “Higher education needs thoughtful people, passionate about higher education and knowledgeable about governance. Marie and Tom exemplify those qualities, and their work will help AGB deliver on its mission for its members.”
In addition to their positions on AGB’s board, the new directors are current and former leaders at colleges and universities.
- Marie Sullivan is a member of the governing board of Maricopa Community Colleges. She was elected to her seat in 2018 and served as chair for four years. From 1997 to 2017, Marie was the president and CEO of Arizona Women’s Education and Employment, Inc. (AWEE), a leading nonprofit provider of workforce development and employment assistance. She has served on the Phoenix College President’s Advisory Council, the Arizona Center for Economic Progress Board, the Arizona Association of Community College Trustees, as well as the AGB Council of Board Chairs. She has been honored as one of the 50 Most Influential Women in Business in Arizona, a Public Service Leader of the Year from the YWCA, and more.
- Tom Sullivan, JD, is a trustee emeritus at the University of Vermont (UVM), the University of Minnesota Foundation, and Drake University. He is also president emeritus of UVM, serving from 2012 to 2019, and currently serves as a tenured professor teaching full-time at the university. Under Tom’s leadership, UVM implemented the Catamount Commitment, which provided additional grants and scholarships to cover tuition and comprehensive fees for eligible low-income students. He also led the university through a prodigious fundraising campaign, raising $600 million a year ahead of schedule. Prior to becoming president, Tom served as senior vice president for academic affairs and provost at the University of Minnesota, and as dean of the University of Minnesota Law School and the University of Arizona College of Law, and was a consultant for the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on judicial nominations to the Supreme Court. His higher education leadership positions spanned 30 years.
“As an association focused entirely on leading practices of governance, AGB is lucky to have such dedicated individuals serve on its board of directors,” said Ellen Chaffee, AGB interim president and CEO. “Their experiences complement those of our other directors and support our efforts to ensure diversity of experience to guide AGB with multiple perspectives. Higher education is facing real challenges, and AGB recognizes our board members as integral to both AGB’s and higher education’s future success. I look forward to seeing Marie and Tom lend their expertise to our work.”
Find out more about AGB’s Board of Directors here.
About AGB
The Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB) is the premier membership organization that strengthens higher education governing boards and the strategic roles they serve within their organizations. Through our vast library of resources, educational events, and consulting services, and with more than 100 years of experience, we empower 40,000 AGB members from more than 2,000 institutions and foundations to navigate complex issues, implement leading practices, streamline operations, and govern with confidence. AGB is the trusted resource for board members, chief executives, and key administrators on higher education governance and leadership. Learn more at AGB.org.
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