Published on April 18, 2025 2:41 pm
Last Updated on April 18, 2025 2:41 pm
(MIKE SULLIVAN IN 2011)
Story by Kelly Allee of Lake Land College
The Lake Land College community fondly remembered Mike Sullivan following news of his passing.
Sullivan served on the Lake Land College Board of Trustees from 1987 to 2024, the longest tenure by a board member in the College’s history. During that time, Sullivan was a visionary leader, a champion for innovation and an advocate for student support.
“On behalf of the Board of Trustees and Lake Land faculty and staff, we extend our deepest condolences to Mike’s wife, Linda, his children and extended family,” Lake Land College President Josh Bullock said. “As the longest-serving trustee in Lake Land history, Mike Sullivan devoted many years to advancing Lake Land College’s mission of accessible, high-quality education for our region. Mike’s student-first approach, devotion to campus enrichment and commitment to innovation were instrumental in advancing the College over the years while maintaining our high standards of academic excellence. We will deeply miss Trustee Sullivan’s visionary leadership that led the College’s growth and success in countless ways.”
Sullivan’s influence at Lake Land extends beyond his service as a trustee and dates back to his time as a student. A veteran of the Vietnam War, Sullivan returned to his hometown of Mattoon in 1968 and became one of the earliest students to attend the College. He witnessed the groundbreaking of Lake Land’s campus and served on the first ever Illinois Community College Board Student Advisory Committee. He was elected Student Government president in 1968 and led the creation of the annual Spring Carnival, one of Lake Land’s most cherished traditions. Sullivan graduated from Lake Land College in 1970 before earning a bachelor’s degree in Ag Industries from the University of Illinois.
In 1987, Sullivan returned to Lake Land College when he was elected to the board of trustees. Over his 37-year tenure, he was a devoted advocate for the needs of Lake Land College, its students and the entire community college system. He frequently collaborated with state legislators to increase community college funding, student financial aid support and university transfer opportunities.
Sullivan was also a champion for innovation throughout his service on the board of trustees. Most notably, he spearheaded a campus-wide energy-saving initiative that leverages solar panel technology and daylight harvesting techniques. Sullivan’s commitment to these campus improvements have helped the College become a national leader in energy conservation and save approximately $500,000 per year.
Sullivan was also instrumental in the development of Alumni Park and the Veteran’s Memorial Wall on campus. As both a Lake Land College alumnus and a U.S. Navy veteran, Sullivan considered these projects to be among his most cherished and personal accomplishments during his time on the board of trustees.
In 2005, Sullivan and his wife established a scholarship endowment with the Lake Land College Foundation to help local students access their education goals. Each year, the Mike and Linda Sullivan Endowed Scholarship provides tuition support for a student in financial need.
Lake Land College has presented several awards and honors to Sullivan over the years in recognition of his outstanding service and generosity. In 2004, he received the Golden Apple Award for his contributions to the Lake Land College Alumni Association. In 2014, Sullivan was named to the Distinguished Alumni Society in recognition of his community imprint as a former Lake Land College student. He was also recognized as one of the most influential individuals in Lake Land history in 2018 when he was named to the Foundation’s Top 50 VIP List.
In February 2024, Sullivan announced his resignation from the board of trustees, stating, “I’m immensely proud of Lake Land College and all that we have accomplished during my tenure. I have no doubt the College will continue to flourish and provide our district residents with the highest quality education for years to come.” Sullivan was honored for his service at the following board meeting in March.
At the time of Sullivan’s resignation, Lake Land College President Josh Bullock said, “We are extremely grateful for the many years of dedicated service Trustee Sullivan has given to Lake Land College. We thank him for his visionary leadership and guidance. His exemplary service and his passion for helping students is immeasurable.”
Beyond his service to Lake Land College, Sullivan was a source of leadership and support throughout the community. He served on the Illinois Community College Trustees Association (ICCTA) for more than 30 years, which included terms as treasurer from 1997-1998, vice president from 1998-1999 and president from 1999-2000. Sullivan was a six-time recipient of the ICCTA Education Award and received the Ray Hartstein Trustee Achievement Award in recognition of his outstanding service as an ICCTA member.
A lifelong native of Mattoon, Sullivan was an active member of his community, serving on the Mattoon Planning and Zoning Committee and the Mattoon Community Foundation Board, the Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation Advisory Board, the Saint Mary School Board and the Mattoon Public Action to Deliver Shelter (PADS) committee.
