Former governor and ambassador to Ireland Michael J. Sullivan

Sullivan to Receive UW Honorary Degree

April 28, 2008 - The University of Wyoming will confer its highest award, the honorary doctoral degree, upon former governor and ambassador to Ireland Michael J. Sullivan of Casper. He will be recognized during UW commencement ceremonies May 10.

Criteria for the award are: notable contribution to the health, education or general welfare of Wyoming citizens; outstanding accomplishment by alumni, either on a state or national level; or accomplishment so outstanding that it has received recognition on a national or international level.

A member of a prominent Wyoming family with long-time ties to UW, Sullivan practices law as a partner at Rothgerber Johnson & Lyons, LLP, in Casper. At UW Sullivan was among the first recipients of the College's petroleum engineering degree (B.S. 1961). He continued his education with a J.D. with honors (1964) from the UW College of Law. He is recognized as an accomplished trial lawyer with expertise on issues related to arbitration and mediation, natural resources law and international business development. After 22 years of practicing law, Sullivan won the 1986 governor's race on his first try. His landslide re-election in 1990 was by the largest margin for a governor's race in Wyoming history.

In 1995 Sullivan returned to private practice and then spent a semester as a Fellow of the Institute of Politics at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. President Bill Clinton named the Honorable Michael J. Sullivan as United States Ambassador to Ireland in 1998.

"Mike has contributed to the general welfare of Wyoming citizens and is an accomplished alumnus of the University of Wyoming, having brought distinction to the state, the university and himself on state, national and international stages," according to a nomination letter written by Harold Bergman, UW professor and director of the William D. Ruckelshaus Institute of Environment and Natural Resources (RIENR), and Carol Frost, professor and associate vice president of research and economic development at UW.

Sullivan has served on numerous boards, including the College of Engineering and Applied Science National Advisory Board, and chaired or co-chaired many of them, including services as a founding member of the RIENR board starting in 1994. In 2002, he became chairman of the board, serving five years.

Among Sullivan's many honors are the Wyoming National Guard's Distinguished Service Medal, the Wyoming Heritage Society's Award of Merit, the University of Wyoming Outstanding Alumnus Award and membership of the University of Wyoming College of Engineering and Applied Science Hall of Fame.