Timothy J. Sullivan - President of William & Mary

President of William & Mary

Sullivan's long administration at William & Mary was characterized by a renewed emphasis on undergraduate education, by strong support among students, faculty, and alumni, and by well-thought-out but often bold moves. At the request of other presidents of colleges and universities financially supported by the Commonwealth of Virginia, Sullivan became the spokesman for increases in educational funding and for educational excellence. During the four years of confrontations between Governor Jim Gilmore and politicians of both parties, Sullivan was one of the most outspoken critics of the tax-cutting Gilmore's approach to education. In that period of budget shortfalls, Sullivan was noted on his campus for quietly transferring money from other college needs to assure that class size and a high quality of undergraduate education continued without interruption at William & Mary.