SPC hires senator who advocated expansion

Sen. Don Sullivan, a driving force behind the school's expansion, begins a job this week as a consultant and adviser.

By ANITA KUMAR, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published September 6, 2002

ST. PETERSBURG -- Sen. Don Sullivan, a state legislator who spearheaded efforts to expand programs at St. Petersburg College, has been hired at the school.

Sullivan, 66, a St. Petersburg Republican who is being forced from the Legislature by term limits, began work this week as an adviser and consultant to SPC president Carl Kuttler.

He will work on several special projects, including finding ways to make bachelor's degrees more accessible to students, seeking a grant to find the nation's most innovative teaching methods and writing a 10-year master plan.

"In my 36 years at the college, I've never seen his equal in the Legislature when it comes to education policy," SPC president Carl Kuttler said. "He did a lot to help the residents of his home county, but innovation and creativity were felt on a statewide level."

Kuttler said he approached Sullivan several months ago after the senator decided not to run for a House seat in November. Sullivan and Kuttler have not agreed to a title or a salary yet.

Sullivan, who spent years working on education issues, was reluctant to comment Thursday on his new position, saying he would rather wait until next week when it will be officially announced.

"I look forward to working for St. Petersburg College," he said in a statement. "As a state senator, education has always been my primary interest."

Sullivan is credited with helping get SPC the ability to award four-year degrees -- a program that began this fall in education, nursing and technology management -- and splitting off the University of South Florida's branch campuses in St. Petersburg and Sarasota.

"I think it's a good fit," USF president Judy Genshaft said. "Education really has become a passion for him."

Sullivan, an orthopedic surgeon, was first elected to the Senate in 1992 after being recruited by his friend, former Sen. John Grant, R-Tampa.

A moderate Republican, he took on education as a pet project, supporting programs to give students books, educate disabled children and begin the charter school system in Florida, among others. This year, he chaired the appropriations subcommittee on education.

Sullivan had previously announced plans to run for a House seat representing a district that stretches from Tarpon Springs to Pinellas Park. But, he said, many of his colleagues convinced him he didn't want to run for the House after serving in the Senate.

His term officially ends Nov. 30.

SPC also employs former state Rep. Lars Hafner, who leads a program that allows students to take classes from other colleges while at SPC, and former Pinellas County Commissioner Sallie Parks, who works as a lobbyist.

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