Lisa Sullivan Awarded 2022 Mudd Prize

Lisa Sullivan, recipient of the 2022 Henry T. Mudd Prize, an award that recognizes extraordinary service, has experienced many firsts during her career at Harvey Mudd College.

In addition to being the first female chair of her department (Humanities, Social Sciences and the Arts), Sullivan was the inaugural associate dean of academic affairs, the first associate dean for faculty development, the first Core Curriculum director and the first female vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty, a position she has held since 2017.

The Henry T. Mudd Prize is awarded each year at Commencement to a member of the Harvey Mudd community whose service to the College and its mission is deemed exemplary. Henry T. Mudd (1913–1990), the son of Harvey S. Mudd and a founding trustee and board chair, was instrumental in the creation and early development of the College named for his father.

Sullivan, who is leaving Harvey Mudd College in June to become provost and dean of faculty for Mount Holyoke College, joined HMC in 1990. Since then, she has taught Economic History in the Department of Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts and, in addition to her many “firsts,” she has administered a Mellon grant directed toward faculty career satisfaction, supported the successful reaccreditation of the College by the WASC Senior College and University Commission and has been “a central and enduring presence on the College’s Pandemic Planning Team.”

Upon accepting the Mudd Prize, Sullivan thanked her faculty and staff colleagues. “It’s been an amazing, amazing three decades at this institution, and I’m so profoundly grateful for the collaboration, partnership, inspiration and affection that you’ve all given me,” she said.

The honor was announced at the 64th Commencement ceremony of Harvey Mudd College May 19. Awardees receive $6,000, $3,000 of which is designated for use within the College at the discretion of the recipient.

Text of the Henry T. Mudd Prize citation awarded to Sullivan

For her exemplary service to Harvey Mudd College’s students, faculty, and staff, during which she has served the College with dedication, kindness, collegiality, and fair-mindedness; and

For her patience, kindness and genuine care for her students and colleagues, generously making herself available in times of need; and

For her excellence in teaching and research, for her commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice, as well as to meaningful work and work-life balance; and

For her selfless commitment to the mission and quality of this institution, having been elected by her colleagues to serve in several leadership roles including Chair of the Faculty and the first female chair of her department; and

For serving on the 2006 Strategic Planning Steering Committee for Harvey Mudd College, resulting in new priorities such as creating new experiential learning opportunities, revising the Core, introducing a new writing course, developing the Global Clinic Program, and establishing methods to continually assess and improve our educational experience; and

For being the first and leading the path in many roles at the College including as its inaugural Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, its first Associate Dean for Faculty Development, the first Core Curriculum Director and the first female Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty; and

For leading the academic program over the last five years and facilitating a successful reaccreditation around the theme of healthy excellence; and

For serving the greater Claremont Colleges community through her leadership on the Academic Deans Committee; and

For being a central and enduring presence on the College’s Pandemic Planning Team, providing sound advice on academic matters to the Board of Trustees, the President, and the President’s Cabinet and;

For being an outstanding colleague and humanist esteemed and highly regarded throughout the Claremont community for over thirty years.

Lisa Sullivan, Vice President for Academic Affairs and R. Michael Shanahan Dean of the Faculty and Professor of Economic History, is hereby designated the 2022 recipient of the Henry T. Mudd Prize.