Robin Holmes-Sullivan, PsyD, is presented with this Presidential Citation in recognition of her exceptional leadership as a university administrator in improving the lives of college students.
For more than 30 years, Holmes-Sullivan has supported the well-being of students as director of the University of Oregon Counseling and Testing Center, dean of Students and vice president of student life at the University of Oregon, vice president of student affairs for the University of California system, vice president and dean of students at Lewis & Clark College, and president of Lewis & Clark College.
Holmes-Sullivan is the first woman, first person of color, and first openly LGBTQ person to become the president of Lewis & Clark College.
She has helped ensure student success in and out of the academic setting by fostering healthy, multicultural, and respectful campus communities, improving student affordability, supporting the first-year experience effort to strengthen and enhance the critical entry into college, streamlining transfers to the university from community colleges, developing a coherent sexual assault policy, and crafting new policy around free speech and demonstrations. She was pivotal during the COVID-19 pandemic in devising creative approaches that helped keep students safe and progressing toward their degrees.
She was instrumental in capital campaigns at the University of Oregon and at Lewis & Clark College that resulted in the creation of beautiful spaces for the enjoyment of the whole college community. Her work at the University of Oregon helped renovate and reconstruct the Erb Memorial Union and Student Recreation Center. Also, the Lewis & Clark Templeton Campus Center was expanded as a result of her work. For the past 20 years, Holmes-Sullivan has maintained a clinical psychology practice and consults on issues of diversity and multicultural organizational development for higher education institutions and private corporations.
In recognition of her sustained efforts to promote student success and well-being, the APA honors Holmes-Sullivan with this Presidential Citation. Her commitment to students exemplifies the highest ideals supported by the APA.