President-elect Julie Sullivan will take a first step in making specific plans for St. Thomas on April 16, when she sends out a survey to students, faculty and staff.

As part of her visit to campus this week, Sullivan participated in meetings to design and develop the survey, the first step in a strategic planning process that she wants to roll out this fall.

“There is a lot of energy and enthusiasm around the university, about what the next chapter is in the university’s life, about what we can do together, but we need to come together and define that,” Sullivan said. “I’m very excited about watching the strategic planning help us come together to define some aspirations and goals for the next five years.”

In addition to the survey meetings, Sullivan participated in forums Thursday, where she held question-and-answer sessions with faculty and staff.

“I really enjoyed the forums; I was very pleased with the turnout,” Sullivan said. “I thought the questions were good questions, and I felt like people were asking questions in a positive spirit, with approach to my leadership and approach to the university.”

Sullivan also has met with the search committee chairs for two open positions at St. Thomas: dean of the Opus College of Business and the dean of the College of Education, Leadership and Counseling. Sullivan said she discussed how the searches have progressed, reviewed assessments of the candidates and talked about future strategies in selecting a candidate.

Friday night, Sullivan planned to attend the Luann Dummer Center for Women’s 20th anniversary gala. She said she was excited for the opportunity to celebrate and learn more about the center.

“That was just fortuitous that times (of the gala and of Sullivan’s trip) coincided, so that will be interesting,” Sullivan said. “It’s going to be a great opportunity for me to learn more and participate in kind of an informal social setting.”

Looking forward

From what she has seen, two of St. Thomas’ biggest strengths are its Catholic identity and its liberal arts focus.

“St. Thomas is a fabulous Catholic, liberal arts university,” Sullivan said. “Like the University of San Diego, (St. Thomas) could also be described as a comprehensive university with a liberal arts foundation and focus, because we do have successful professional schools. … I’m excited about that comprehensive nature and what we can offer.”

When Sullivan officially becomes president on July 1, her goal is to expand St. Thomas’ good reputation.

“St. Thomas is extremely well-respected and well-known in the local and regional communities, and it’s earned that respect,” Sullivan said. “I want that net, the circle of influence that St. Thomas has, to get wider and wider, and for more and more people to know us, and to have that same degree of respect.”

At the University of San Diego, where she is executive vice president and provost, many students drive to campus, she said. She is looking forward to living in a community that has a more intimate feel, something she said she experienced during her time at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

“I’m interested to be back in a community where the university is in a community that students and faculty are walking to and a part of, particularly since I’m going to live right here, too,” Sullivan said.

As the beginning of her presidency grows near, Sullivan said, one of the biggest challenges will be trying to absorb everything about St. Thomas so quickly.

“I realize what a big job it is,” Sullivan said. “I’m very people-oriented and I want to get to know people, but it will be like drinking from a fire hose initially, with so many people to meet and things to learn about the university.”

But having worked in a university setting since 1983 and having been a student before that, she said, she is comfortable in the academic setting, and looks forward to stepping into her new role.

“School is my home, and universities are my home, but I’ve never had the opportunity to lead one,” Sullivan said. “It’s a lot of responsibility, but it’s a lot of fun, too.”

Gabrielle Martinson can be reached at mart5649@stthomas.edu.