Overview
- The State Board approved Sullivan’s selection at its July 17 meeting and publicly announced him as acting president on Thursday, July 23, 2026 as he awaits confirmation from the North Carolina General Assembly.
- Sullivan retired in January after about 12 years leading the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, where officials say annual graduates nearly doubled and college foundation assets tripled.
- Under a 2023 law, the General Assembly must confirm the board’s pick before Sullivan can become permanent president, and the system said no official start date for his acting role has been announced.
- He will step into immediate policy work that includes implementing Propel NC, a new funding formula that directs money to programs tied to labor demand, and managing limited early access to federal Workforce Pell aid for short-term credential programs.
- The system serves roughly 58 colleges and more than 600,000 students, and supporters say Sullivan’s selection aims to bring steadier leadership after several short presidencies and frequent turnover since 2015.