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Julie H. Sullivan is a leader in Catholic higher education and an internationally recognized scholar in accounting, finance, and taxation. Currently the president of the University of St. Thomas, Sullivan was named the first layperson and woman to serve as president of Santa Clara University on March 1. She will begin her presidency July 1, 2022.

For the past nine years, Sullivan has served as president of the University of St. Thomas, the largest private university in Minnesota. As the first layperson and first female president at St. Thomas, Sullivan is committed to the tenets of Catholic Social Teaching, working to improve access to education, ensure sustainability, dismantle racism, and build community.

During her tenure, Sullivan increased student socioeconomic and racial diversity, improved student access and retention and graduation rates, and achieved a gold STARS (Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System) rating for sustainability achievements. She oversaw the founding of the Dougherty Family College at St. Thomas, a two-year degree program that increased accessibility to four-year degrees for students from diverse and underserved backgrounds. She also established the Morrison Family College of Health, which prioritizes culturally responsive health practices and sustainable approaches in the fields of nursing, psychology, social work, and health and exercise science.