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Transforming Higher Education Through Strategic Leadership

Partnering with university leaders to navigate complexity, align strategy, and create lasting institutional impact.

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Welcome to Eileen Sullivan Consulting...

Where higher education transformation meets seasoned executive leadership. 

With over 25 years of experience, I partner with university leaders to navigate complexity, align strategy, and accelerate institutional success.

 

My approach is deeply collaborative and rooted in a genuine belief in the transformative power of education. Together, we restore clarity, reduce noise, and build momentum for lasting impact.

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Fractional Executive Leadership

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Executive Coaching & Leadership Advisory

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Institutional Strategy & Chief of Staff Duties 

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Crisis, Change & Communications Leadership

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Organization Design & Transformation

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Student Success
Advisory

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How I Can Help

Strategic services focused on your organization’s most critical needs

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I'm Eileen Sullivan...

I am a higher education leader and executive strategy consultant with a rare blend of campus executive leadership and enterprise-level consulting expertise.

 

My career includes cabinet-level roles and senior consulting at Deloitte, focusing on organizational design, change management, student success, and institutional strategy.

 

I specialize in guiding institutions through moments of transition, restoring clarity and momentum. Clients appreciate my combination of sharp strategic insight and heartfelt partnership, which helps leaders navigate complexity with confidence and resilience.

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Speaking Engagements

2026

  • Keynote Address: Strategic Transformation in Public Higher Education. APLU Annual Meeting
  • The Future of Fractional Leadership in Executive Cabinets. ACE Winter Symposium
  • Navigating Institutional Complexity: A Multi-Year Strategy Workshop. NASPA SSAO Summit
  • Leadership Resilience in Times of Campus Upheaval. NAPEHE Plenary

2025

  • Enhancing Consultant Credibility: Lessons from Deloitte to Higher Ed. Deloitte University
  • Harmonizing Academic and Student Affairs through Data-Driven Strategy. NASPA AVP Symposium
  • Institutional Design for Post-Pandemic Success. EDUCAUSE Strategic Forum

2024

  • Managing Campus Crises: A President’s Perspective for VPs. NASPA Annual Conference
  • Organizational Design for Student Success and Well-being. ACPA Convention

2023

  • The Equity Imperative in Higher Education Strategy. NACUBO Strategic Planning Series
  • AI and Institutional Transformation: Beyond the Classroom. EDUCAUSE
  • Crisis Leadership Intensive for Senior Cabinet Officers. Deloitte University

2022

  • Chief of Staff Fundamentals: Operationalizing the President's Vision. AGB National Conference
  • Effective Interim Leadership in Student Affairs. NASPA Annual Meeting

2021

  • Strategic Change Management for Large Scale Campus Initiatives. AAC&U Annual Meeting
  • Leveraging Interim Support for Institutional Continuity. NAPEHE

2020

  • Remote Leadership and the Future of Campus Operations. AGB Summit
  • The Dean of Students' Role in Institutional Strategy during Unprecedented Change. NASPA

2018

  • Transforming the Student Experience through Integrated Service Models. ACUHO-I Strategic Symposium
  • Leading with Purpose: Values-Based Executive Leadership. NASPA Institute

2016

  • Enhancing Student Persistence through Strategic Alignment. College Board Recruitment & Retention Conference
  • Data-Driven Decision Making in the Dean's Office. NASPA

2014

  • Preparing Liberally Educated Citizens: Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement Conferences. AAC&U & NASPA
  • Collaborative Models for Academic and Student Affairs. Annual FYE Conference

What Clients Say

A trusted partner to leaders in higher education, associations, and nonprofits

  • Eileen Sullivan is one of those rare individuals who possesses and uses the perfect combination of "head and heart" as a leader. She's smart, thoughtful, and equipped with loads of professional knowledge. Yet Eileen is simultaneously kind, gracious, and endearing; Eileen has a value-centric approach to leadership in higher education. If you’re lucky enough to partner with Eileen, you’ll see what "heart" and "head" looks like in practice. It's an honor to call her a trusted advisor.

    — President of Private College

    What Clients Say

  • I have had the pleasure of working closely with Dr. Sullivan and my interaction with her has been outstanding. She is brilliant, engaging, funny, supportive, and creative. She is equity minded and not afraid to respectfully tackle difficult conversations. I have been so fortunate to work with her and I cannot say enough good things about her!

    — President of Public University

  • Dr. Sullivan is a mission-driven, student-centered, equity-minded, collaborative and charismatic leader. Her expertise in retention and student success was critical to helping us meet our campus goals. Dr. Sullivan was a pleasure to work with. Her great sense of humor and authenticity make her approachable to everyone with whom she interacts — senior leaders, students, faculty, deans, and staff.

    — Associate Vice Provost for Student Success of Public University

  • Working with Dr. Sullivan was a pleasure, as she cares passionately about her work and the impact she has on the broader university. She is a strong collaborative partner who makes meaningful relationships and builds university-wide support and buy in. Dr. Sullivan's key strengths are many, including her intelligence, humor, collaborative nature, inclusive mindset and results orientation.

    — Chief Human Resource Officer of Public University

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