School of Journalism

Kevin Sullivan founded his strategic communications consulting practice in 2009 after 25-plus years of White House, corporate and sports public relations experience at the most senior levels.   Kevin Sullivan Communications, Inc. focuses on developing the precise messages and strategy to help clients meet their goals and prepare for a crisis – before one hits.  Sullivan’s clients include a wide range of interests from non-profits to publically traded companies across the corporate and sports/entertainment landscapes.  Sullivan also provides media training and speech coaching services for an array of corporate, sports and government clients.

Sullivan was appointed by President George W. Bush as Assistant to the President for Communications on July 11, 2006.  At the White House, he oversaw message development and communications planning.  Sullivan's responsibilities also included oversight of the White House Web site; the rapid response operation; outreach to regional and specialty media; and the production of Presidential events. 

White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten said one of Sullivan’s strengths was his “real Main Street perspective” that enabled him to communicate complicated issues in a way that would connect with the American people. 

Previously, Sullivan served as the Senate-confirmed Assistant Secretary for Communications & Outreach at the U.S. Department of Education.  Before going to Washington, Sullivan was senior vice president for corporate communications & media relations at NBC Universal, where he aligned strategic communications planning across the company's many divisions and cable networks. Sullivan also led media relations strategy for the company's top executives; represented NBC Universal on a coalition of television networks formed to develop effective anti-piracy messaging; and headed up the corporate events group.

As vice president of communications at NBC Sports, Sullivan led NBC's communications efforts for three Olympic Games and for properties such as the U.S. Open, PGA Tour and Ryder Cup; the National Basketball Association; Major League Baseball; NASCAR; Wimbledon; Notre Dame football; and horse racing's Triple Crown.

Sullivan got his start with the Dallas Mavericks, where he was regarded one of the NBA's top public relations executives.  Sullivan was honored five times by the media as the Outstanding Public Relations Director in the NBA's Western Conference and received the NBA's 2004 Splaver/McHugh Tribute to Excellence Award in recognition of his outstanding career performance and service.  


Sullivan earned a bachelor of science in management from Purdue University and a master of arts in mass communication from Iona College in New York.  He is a founding advisory board member of the Mayborn School of Journalism at the University of North Texas. A native of the Chicago area, Sullivan and his wife, Jo Anne, have four children.