Columbia Scholastic Press Association

Edmund J. Sullivan was named director of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association in 1981.

In January of 2006, Nicholas Lemann, dean of the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia, appointed Sullivan to the dual position of executive director of professional prizes for the Journalism School and executive director of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association.

A former high school newspaper editor, Sullivan recalls being forced to watch as his school’s principal burned an issue he had edited. He considers that episode as having “seared” the First Amendment into his consciousness. As a result, he has dedicated his working life to the cause of a free student press.

Sullivan's dual appointment gives him supervisory authority over both the CSPA as well as the following professional prizes administered by the Graduate School of Journalism:

• the Meyer "Mike" Berger Award for local, in-depth reporting;
• the Lukas Prize Project for nonfiction writing;
• the Maria Moors Cabot Prize for inter-American understanding;
• the National Magazine Awards;
• the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awards in broadcast journalism;
• the John B. Oakes Award for environmental reporting; and
• the John Chancellor Award for outstanding achievements in journalism.

Sullivan also serves as a Presidential Delegate for the University and as Head Marshal for Academic Procession during Columbia's annual Commencement exercises.

His numerous awards include the Laurence B. Johnson Award for Best Editorial Writing from the Educational Press Association of America, Distinguished Service Award from Community College Journalism Association, the Reid Montgomery Service Award from College Media Advisers, the Pioneer Award from the National Scholastic Press Association and the Gold Key from CSPA. He was inducted into the National Scholastic Journalism Hall of Fame in 1998.

Besides his work at Columbia, he served on the Student Press Law Center Board of Directors from 1983 to 2000.

Sullivan is the father of two adult children and lives in New York City.

Photo by Rebecca Castillo.