Kevin Sullivan (operative)
Encyclopedia
Kevin Sullivan was the White House Communications Director
, also known as the Assistant to the President for Communications, from July 24, 2006 until January 20, 2009. From April 2005 he was the Assistant Secretary for Communications and Outreach at the U.S. Department of Education.
area, Sullivan earned a bachelor of science in management from Purdue University
and earned a MA
in mass communication from Iona College
, New York
. He is a founding advisory board member of the New Wayborn School of Journalism at the University of North Texas
. Sullivan and his wife, Jo Anne, have four children (Terry (25), Amy (22), Jenny (16) Frank (11))
. He had previously worked as a chief spokesperson and media relations executive at NBC Universal
. He has a background in sports public relations
for NBC and prior to that for the Dallas Mavericks
of the National Basketball Association
. Sullivan was recognized five times by the media as Outstanding Public Relations Director in the NBA’s Western Conference and received the NBA’s 2004 Splaver/McHugh Tribute to Excellence Award.
In January 2009, he was replaced by Ellen Moran
when President Barack Obama
took office.
Following his departure from the White House Sullivan founded Kevin Sullivan Communications, a
strategic communications consulting firm.
White House Communications Director
The White House Director of Communications, also known as Assistant to the President for Communications, is part of the senior staff of the President of the United States, and is responsible for developing and promoting the agenda of the President and leading its media campaign...
, also known as the Assistant to the President for Communications, from July 24, 2006 until January 20, 2009. From April 2005 he was the Assistant Secretary for Communications and Outreach at the U.S. Department of Education.
Education
A native of the ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
area, Sullivan earned a bachelor of science in management from Purdue University
Purdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
and earned a MA
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in mass communication from Iona College
Iona College (New York)
Iona College is located in New Rochelle, New York, 20 miles north of Manhattan in suburban Westchester County. The college occupies 35 acres on North Ave. The college also operates a Graduate Center in Pearl River, Rockland County, New York....
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He is a founding advisory board member of the New Wayborn School of Journalism at the University of North Texas
University of North Texas
The University of North Texas is a public institution of higher education and research in Denton. Founded in 1890, UNT is part of the University of North Texas System. As of the fall of 2010, the University of North Texas, Denton campus, had a certified enrollment of 36,067...
. Sullivan and his wife, Jo Anne, have four children (Terry (25), Amy (22), Jenny (16) Frank (11))
Professional career
Before his role in the White House, Sullivan was assistant secretary for communications at the Department of EducationUnited States Department of Education
The United States Department of Education, also referred to as ED or the ED for Education Department, is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government...
. He had previously worked as a chief spokesperson and media relations executive at NBC Universal
NBC Universal
NBCUniversal Media, LLC is a media and entertainment company engaged in the production and marketing of entertainment, news, and information products and services to a global customer base...
. He has a background in sports public relations
Public relations
Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
for NBC and prior to that for the Dallas Mavericks
Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks are a professional basketball team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association , and the reigning NBA champions, having defeated the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals.According to a 2011...
of the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
. Sullivan was recognized five times by the media as Outstanding Public Relations Director in the NBA’s Western Conference and received the NBA’s 2004 Splaver/McHugh Tribute to Excellence Award.
In January 2009, he was replaced by Ellen Moran
Ellen Moran
Ellen Moran is chief of staff at the U.S. Department of Commerce under Secretary Gary Locke. She previously held the position of White House Communications Director. Her predecessor was Kevin Sullivan, who held the position under the Bush administration...
when President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
took office.
Following his departure from the White House Sullivan founded Kevin Sullivan Communications, a
strategic communications consulting firm.
Sources
- President Bush Appoints Kevin Sullivan as Assistant to the President for Communications, White House press release, 11 July 2006
- Kevin Sullivan Bio, Kevin Sullivan Communications, Retrieved February 22, 2010.