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2011 Speeches

Speech Archives

Copies of older speeches by Teresa A. Sullivan, president of the University of Virginia can be requested by writing: Office of the President, P.O. Box 400224, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904–4224.

2011 | 2010

Holiday message from President Sullivan

December 20, 2011

As you gather with family and friends to celebrate the holiday season, please take time to remember the University of Virginia family that connects all of us who care about the University and its future. More.

President Sullivan on the Rotunda Repairs

November 20, 2011

All of us in the University community — students, staff, faculty, alumni, parents — understand the significance of the Rotunda as the symbolic heart of our University. In this message, I want to explain some of the difficult tasks that lie ahead for us as we seek to preserve our Jeffersonian architectural heritage for future generations. More.

Remarks by President Sullivan at the opening session of the full Board

November 10, 2011

Yesterday there were two sociologists heading AAU universities. Today I am the only one. I am referring to the abrupt termination last night of Graham Spanier’s presidency at The Pennsylvania State University. It has prompted me to spend these few moments with you at the beginning of this meeting discussing the nature of presidential leadership at universities. More.

President's Address to Parents

October 29, 2011

Welcome, and thank you for coming. I'm Teresa Sullivan, and I have the privilege to serve as the University's president. I'm pleased to have this opportunity to visit with our students' families. Many of you were here on Opening Weekend, especially the parents of our first-year students. So welcome back. More.

New Internal Financial Model for the University

October 25, 2011

We are working to develop a new internal financial model for the University to meet a pressing demand. In recent years we have seen increasing pressure on all of our revenue sources, and we expect that this pressure will continue to intensify in the future. To fulfill our academic aspirations, we need to steward the University's resources wisely. More.

Miller Center Forum: "Higher Education as the Engine of the American Economy"

September 7, 2011

I'm here today to discuss how higher education serves as the engine, or driver, of the American economy. To give us an appropriate mental image for this topic, let me begin by describing a news story and photo that appeared on the CNN website on July 28. More.

Supporting Disaster Relief in Virginia

September 1, 2011

Many Virginians are concerned about the communities across the Commonwealth that suffered damage and extraordinary losses during the recent earthquake, tornadoes, and Hurricane Irene - and about the families in those communities that have been left with few resources to help them recover. More.

Class of 2015 Joins the University Family

August 30, 2011

On the third weekend in August, our students and their families traveled from their homes across the Commonwealth, around the nation, and all over the world, converging on Charlottesville for opening weekend of the fall semester. This is always an occasion of great joy and promise for the coming year. More.

Town Hall Meeting Announcement

June 20, 2011

I am pleased to announce that the final report on the Academic Staff Survey results is nearly complete. Please join me for a town hall meeting in the South Lawn Nau Lecture Hall on June 24, at 10:00 a.m., to discuss the survey results. More.

Town Hall Meeting Announcement

June 13, 2011

I am pleased to announce that the final report on the Academic Staff Survey results is nearly complete. Please join me for a town hall meeting in the South Lawn Nau Lecture Hall on June 24, at 10:00 a.m., to discuss the survey results. More.

Michael Strine of Johns Hopkins Is Named U.Va. Executive VP and COO

May 12, 2011

I am pleased to write you with good news. At a meeting of the Board of Visitors this afternoon, I announced the selection of Michael Strine, the current CFO of Johns Hopkins, as the University's next executive vice president and COO. More.

Letter to Living Wage Coalition students

April 26, 2011

In talking to reporters late last week it quickly became apparent to me that there must have been a fairly significant misunderstanding in regard to the April 19 meeting with President Sullivan and her statement of the same day. More.

Inauguration Address

April 15, 2011

Governor McDonnell; Rector Wynne and members of the Board of Visitors; faculty; staff; students; and alumni, parents, and friends of the University of Virginia: Today I formally dedicate my time, my energy, and my utmost effort to the presidency of this great University. I accept the task before me with gratitude and humility, and I face the future with hope and optimism for what we - together - will accomplish in the years ahead. More.

Leonard Sandridge Appreciation BBQ on April 4

March 22, 2011

I write to remind you of my earlier invitation to have lunch with Leonard Sandridge and all the members of our University family at John Paul Jones Arena on Monday, April 4. More.

President's Report: 2009-10

March 16, 2011

Last year was a time of unprecedented change at the University of Virginia. It was also a time of extraordinary accomplishments. The President's Report is a reflection of much of what transpired in the 2009-2010 academic year -- and the role that each of you has played in maintaining the superior quality of our great institution. More.

Invitation to honor Leonard Sandridge

February 4, 2011

I write to ask each of you to mark April 4 on your calendars in bold red letters. That's the day we will gather as a community to honor one of the University's most effective and influential leaders of the past half-century. More.

New Year's welcome / Provost search begins

January 4, 2011

I write to welcome you to the New Year with the hope that each of you had a joyful and relaxing break with family and friends. This is a difficult time of year to communicate with everyone in an academic community as we are spread both near and far. More.