Brian D. Sullivan will join the University of British Columbia on Aug. 1 as its new vice-president, Students -- a position responsible for shaping the lifelong student experience for prospective and current students, and alumni.
Currently associate vice-president of Student Affairs at the University of Guelph, a position he has held since 1988, Sullivan will oversee a portfolio which includes recruitment and admissions, student services, residences, athletics and recreation, community outreach and alumni relations. The portfolio has a total budget of $142 million and about 460 staff.
"We place a high value on the well-being -- intellectual, emotional, physical, and spiritual -- of our students," said UBC President Martha Piper. "We feel that Brian's experience, skills, vision and energy will help us provide the learning environment in which students will thrive. This key position is critical to realizing Trek 2000, the university's vision for the next century."
Sullivan's appointment is for a five-year term. Among his roles will be to emphasize the importance of student well-being in all key university initiatives and to provide leadership in moving UBC to a more learner-centred environment.
Sullivan received his A.B. (Biology) from Harvard College in 1968 and a Master's of Public Health (Hospital Administration) at Yale University in 1970. He joined the University of Guelph in 1984 and acted in various positions including executive assistant, Office of the Provost (1984-86), and acting provost, Student Services (1987-88).
Among his accomplishments, he has helped initiate ongoing surveys of the undergraduate and graduate student experience, co-founded the Office of First Year Studies and restructured central funding to the Student Affairs Division. He was also responsible for establishing the Sexual and Gender Harassment Office, serving for the last two years on the group charged with developing a new umbrella human rights policy for the University of Guelph.
Along with the student affairs' directors, Sullivan worked closely with the provost and deans to integrate student services units with academic programs, a partnership that has helped promote learner-centredness and student success.
UBC has about 33,000 students in undergraduate and graduate programs and about 167,000 alumni living in 120 countries.