Philosophy professor John Sullivan was recognized as Elon’s first
Distinguished University Professor by President Leo M. Lambert during
opening faculty workshop activites, Aug. 19. Sullivan, the Maude Sharpe
Powell Professor of Philosophy, received the honor for his meritorious
service to the university.
The Distinguished University Professorship is bestowed, on occasion, to
full professors who have made distinguished contributions to teaching,
scholarship and the Elon University community. The board of trustees created
the honor last year, and a committee comprised of faculty members solicited
nominations and recommendations for the award.
In making the announcement, Lambert said Sullivan “might be described as
beloved, wise, inspirational, and truly one of the chief cornerstones of our
distinguished faculty.”
A member of the faculty since 1970, Sullivan has earned a reputation as
one of Elon’s most respected teachers and scholars. He has received the
university’s highest award for teaching, the Daniels-Danieley Award for
Excellence in Teaching, and was chosen to speak at a campus gathering of
students, faculty and staff a day after the September 11 terrorist attacks.
Over the last three years, he served as chair of Elon’s Carnegie Committee
on the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning.
His professional activities extend well beyond Elon. Sullivan is
co-founder of the School of Philosophy and Healing in Action (SOPHIA), a
program at the Traditional Acupuncture Institute in Columbia, Md. The
program, started in 1987, teaches healing principles based on ancient
Chinese beliefs.
Sullivan had served as Elon’s backup graduation speaker for more than 20
years before finally getting the chance to deliver his speech at Elon’s
112th Commencement exercises May 25. Over the years, he prepared and revised
his speeches in case he was called upon to give the address in the event of
an emergency. His opportunity to give this year’s speech, which came when
NASA astronaut Mae Jemison cancelled due to a family illness, was the
subject of a Wall Street Journal story and network news stories on CNN and
NBC.