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2018 SESSION

18106751D
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 381
Offered February 27, 2018
Commending Teresa A. Sullivan.
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Patrons-- Toscano, Adams, D.M., Boysko, Carr, Convirs-Fowler, Cox, Delaney, Filler-Corn, Heretick, Hope, Hurst, Ingram, Jones, J.C., Jones, S.C., Krizek, Landes, Levine, Lindsey, Lopez, Plum, Rasoul, Sickles, Sullivan, Turpin and Ware; Senators: Deeds, Dunnavant, Ebbin, Favola, Howell, Lewis, Marsden, McClellan, Reeves, Ruff, Saslaw and Spruill
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WHEREAS, Teresa A. Sullivan, who came to the University of Virginia in 2010 as the University’s eighth and first female president and the George M. Kaufman Presidential Professor of Sociology, will retire as president of the University of Virginia in July 2018; and

WHEREAS, Teresa Sullivan, an outstanding scholar and administrator, has ably led the University of Virginia, guiding the University to grow and adapt to complex changes in the dynamic field of higher education, both in Virginia and beyond; and

WHEREAS, having graduated from St. Joseph’s High School in Jackson, Mississippi, and having earned a bachelor’s degree with high honor from Michigan State University’s James Madison College and master’s and doctoral degrees in sociology from the University of Chicago, Teresa Sullivan previously served as a faculty member and as an executive vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Texas and as the provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at the University of Michigan; and

WHEREAS, Teresa Sullivan has achieved a national reputation and recognition for her work in social demography, especially labor force and ethnic groups, and the sociology of cultural institutions and was awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree from Michigan State University; and

WHEREAS, Teresa Sullivan, working closely with her experienced and highly effective leadership team, has addressed many serious challenges facing higher education, including cost containment, affordability, student debt reduction, faculty compensation, and the emergence of online education; and

WHEREAS, Teresa Sullivan worked with thousands of alumni, parents, students, faculty, and staff to develop and implement the Cornerstone Plan, a comprehensive strategic plan to guide the University of Virginia into the future; and

WHEREAS, through President Sullivan’s vision and leadership, the University now has ongoing efforts, at both the unit and pan-University levels, to reduce costs, improve processes, and enhance efficiency, while protecting the quality of the academic enterprise; and

WHEREAS, Teresa Sullivan oversaw changes to academic advising methods and the creation of the Meriwether Lewis Institute for Citizen Leadership; and

WHEREAS, under her leadership and commitment to expand the University of Virginia’s research enterprise to address critical health and social challenges, Teresa Sullivan has encouraged professors to implement new technologies, enhanced the ability of students and faculty to protect their intellectual property through the Licensing & Ventures Group, and established four pan-University institutes that span traditional disciplines and demand multifaceted solutions; and

WHEREAS, Teresa Sullivan led the successful completion of a $3 billion capital campaign in 2013; prioritized the recruitment and retention of world-class faculty members, the preservation of the University’s historic Grounds, and the provision of scholarships for low-income students; and developed a new financial model to ensure transparency and stability; and

WHEREAS, Teresa Sullivan is the author or coauthor of six books and has written or edited numerous articles, reviews, and other scholarly works; her most recent research is focused on labor force demography and methods to measure productivity in higher education; and

WHEREAS, Teresa Sullivan led preparations for the University of Virginia’s bicentennial celebration, which began in October 2017; established the President’s Commission on Slavery and the University to study the institution’s historical relationship with slavery; and in February 2018 announced the formation of the President’s Commission on the University in the Age of Segregation; and

WHEREAS, Teresa Sullivan, through her work to strengthen relationships with members of both the executive and legislative branches of the government of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and through her tireless efforts on numerous boards, study groups, and commissions, has demonstrated the University’s commitment to the health and prosperity of the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, Teresa Sullivan has been a leader in higher education in Virginia and across the nation and leaves a legacy of excellence to faculty, staff, and her successor as president; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Teresa A. Sullivan for her exemplary leadership as president of the University of Virginia; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Teresa A. Sullivan as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration and gratitude for her commitment to academic excellence and exceptional leadership of the University of Virginia and her many valuable contributions to the Commonwealth of Virginia.