Margaret Sullivan, Regional Chancellor

Dr. Margaret Sullivan

Margaret Sullivan, PhD, has served as Regional Chancellor of the University of South Florida St. Petersburg since January 2009. During this period the institution was reaffirmed by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges. The institution received Carnegie Classification as a Master's Level Comprehensive University as well as the Community Engagement Classification. During her leadership at USFSP enrollment has grown substantially; the Science and Technology Building was completed; the Multipurpose Student Center was funded and is under construction; and two additional buildings are in the process of renovation. In 2011, the institution was ranked #36 among public regional universities in the South by U.S. News and World Report.

Dr. Sullivan has had extensive leadership experience in public and private universities. As a consultant she has helped more than 200 institutions and university systems in the southeastern United States as well as in Ecuador, Nicaragua, Mexico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Her many years of experience in higher education administration began with a fellowship to study special education at Georgia State University. Sullivan transitioned from art instruction and into university administration while pursuing doctoral studies in educational leadership.

Dr. Sullivan spent 11 years as an administrator at Georgia State University, serving as Assistant Vice President of Academic Services and Assistant to the President. Brenau University selected her as Vice President for Academic Affairs in 1989. She had served previously as department head and chairman for graduate studies. At Brenau, she was a professor of Education and Psychology as well as its academic leader until 1993. During her time at Brenau, graduate programs were initiated and distance learning was expanded.

In 1993, she became a full-time consultant in higher education administration, leadership, evaluation and accreditation. She is President of the Southeastern Consulting Group in Higher Education, and before that she was Director of the Consulting Network of the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. She has previously consulted with the University of South Florida St. Petersburg in preparing the institution for initial accreditation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges.

She earned her doctorate degree in Educational Leadership and Psychology and her Master's of Education degree in Special Education from Georgia State University. Additionally, she completed post-doctoral studies in Educational Administration.

Dr. Sullivan was an active member of numerous advisory boards, including the National Association of State Advisory Boards on Vocational Education, the National Subcommittee on National Policy Analysis and Chairman of the Georgia Council on Vocational Technical Education. She currently serves on the Board of Governors of the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce as well as the board of the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership. She has written articles, book chapters, monographs, and reports related to higher education accreditation, academic planning and evaluation, information processing, learning disabilities, mental retardation and deaf services. Dr. Sullivan was recognized in 2011 by the Girls Scouts of Tampa Bay, Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine and the Dali Museum.

Margaret Sullivan, PhD Vita (PDF)