| Lawrence Sullivan Named New Fetzer President - April 26, 2010 |
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Lawrence Sullivan Named New Fetzer Institute President and CEO
KALAMAZOO, Michigan, April 26, 2010—The trustees of the Fetzer Institute are pleased to announce the appointment of Lawrence E. Sullivan as the Institute’s next president and CEO. Sullivan, who will assume the post July 1, has served as a trustee of the organization since 2004 and replaces Thomas Beech who retires in June. “We were delighted to find the perfect candidate right in our midst,” said Fetzer Institute Board Chairman and Executive Search Committee member Rob Lehman. “Larry’s scholarship and his international experience will be a tremendous asset to Fetzer’s work in the coming decade, particularly as we advance our mission of love and forgiveness more widely around the globe. His knowledge of our organization through his five-year tenure as a Fetzer trustee offers him a terrific head start.” Sullivan is professor of theology and concurrent professor of anthropology at Notre Dame University. Prior to his move to Notre Dame in 2004, he served as director of the Center for the Study of World Religions at Of his appointment, Sullivan commented, “This opportunity is an honor. The Institute’s mission—to foster an awareness of the power of love and forgiveness in the emerging global community—is singular and inspiring. I hope to bring my international experience and work with diverse cultures into play in new ways at Fetzer, where we look forward to engaging more widely with people and organizations around the world.” Associations & Public Service: Sullivan is a Lifetime Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, founded in 1787 by He served in Kivu Province of the Congo and in Mexico as a member of a Roman Catholic religious order. He was ordained and served as a priest for several years in a Hispanic parish and with Latino community organizations in Chicago. In 1993 he served on the panel of ten experts making recommendations to the Justice Department for improvements in federal law enforcement after the Branch Davidian standoff in Waco, Texas. Sullivan also developed the concept and content for the Museum of World Religions in Taipei, Taiwan, which opened in 2001. Publications: Sullivan’s acclaimed study, Icanchu's Drum: An Orientation to Meaning in South American Religions won the Association of American Publisher's award for the best book in philosophy and religion and an American Council of Learned Societies best book award. He is the associate editor of the 16-volume Encyclopedia of Religion, which received the Hawkins Prize and the Dartmouth Medal from the American Library Association for the best work in any category of publishing. The 12-volume Religions of Humanity book series, which Sullivan wrote with Julien Ries for a high school readership, received the 2000 Hans Christian Andersen Prize for the Best Series in Children’s Literature. One of his most recent books, Stewards of the Sacred, deals with the care of sacred art, especially spiritual objects from native cultures. Sullivan is an editorial board member of academic journals in the United States, Europe, and Asia. He has published scores of scholarly articles in multiple languages and authored or edited more than a dozen books. Education and Research: A graduate of St. Francis College in Milwaukee, Sullivan carried out his Sullivan has lived abroad for extended periods of research including: Nagoya, Japan, as senior Fulbright research scholar for the Japan-United States Education Commission (1985-1986); Christchurch, New Zealand, as visiting professor in religion and Maori studies at the University of Canterbury (1991); Florence, Italy, as visiting professor at the Villa I Tatti Renaissance Studies Center (1996-97); and Ascona, Switzerland, as fellow at the Eranos Foundation (2008-2009). Board Chairman Rob Lehman praised the tenure of Thomas Beech, who retires in June after seven years of service. “Tom is an exceptional person whose experience and leadership have helped to create a durable mission and an outstanding community capable of carrying the Institute’s vision well into the 21st century.” Beech will remain in the Kalamazoo area and upon retirement will be named president emeritus. Commenting on Sullivan’s selection, Beech said, “Larry is a wonderful choice to be the Institute’s next president. With his experience and global |
