U-M School of Nursing names first Staff of the Year Award winner

The University of Michigan School of Nursing has announced that Stephen Sullivan, clinical research coordinator in the Center for Sexuality and Health Disparities (CSHD), will receive its inaugural Staff of the Year Award.

The award allows faculty and staff colleagues to nominate a deserving staff member for contributions they make to the success of the School of Nursing. Sullivan, who has served in his current position for five years, was selected for the award from a group of highly qualified nominees in various roles throughout the school. Nominations are based on a number of criteria, including excellence in overall job performance going beyond the scope of their position, outstanding interpersonal skills and working relationships embodying the school’s E.P.I.C. values, and innovative contributions to a department, office or unit.

“Our students, faculty and the School of Nursing as a whole could not succeed without the hard work and dedication of our staff members, especially during this past year,” said Dean Patricia D. Hurn, Ph.D., RN. “Congratulations to Stephen Sullivan on receiving the very first Staff of the Year Award, and thank you to our entire staff for all that you do.”

“In my over 20 years of research experience and experience hiring dozens of research staff, Stephen stands out as perhaps the most dedicated and responsible staff member I have ever worked with,” said Sylvia S. Hacker Collegiate Professor of Nursing and CSHD Director Rob Stephenson, Ph.D.

As a clinical research coordinator, Sullivan manages several research projects, with responsibilities including the recruitment and retention of subjects, the delivery of interventions to study participants, data collection and analysis, manuscript writing and more.

“Stephen not only does all of his tasks excellently but goes above and beyond his job in myriad ways,” Stephenson added.

A passionate advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion, Sullivan created civility cards to help address barriers to positive, respectful conversation among co-workers at the School of Nursing. He also developed a cultural climate survey for CSHD and collects data each year to help improve the center’s work environment. Sullivan regularly provides technical and graphic design assistance to colleagues within and outside of the center. In addition to designing an annual report card for the Department of Systems, Populations and Leadership, Sullivan recently led a workshop for faculty focused on recruitment and data collection using digital and social media.

“Stephen has a willingness to help anyone he can,” said fellow CSHD Project Manager Kieran Todd. “He has provided a helping hand to doctoral students, non-CSHD staff and faculty, helping them reach out to underserved populations and designing ad campaigns to reach the populations we need to hear from most.”

Sullivan holds a Master’s in Public Health from U-M and is actively engaged in his own research as well, with interests in HIV prevention and care, PrEP utilization, sociostructural determinants of health, sexual agreements and intersectionality. He is currently leading a project surveying 300 people living with HIV who received care at the University of Michigan HIV/AIDS Treatment Program regarding their knowledge and attitudes about the Undetectable equals Untransmittable (U=U) campaign.

 “Stephen is such an asset to both the Center for Sexuality and Health Disparities and the School of Nursing. His professionalism, expertise, initiative, spirit and wit all make him a pleasure to work with,” said Renée Pitter, the center’s research program manager. “As a leader among peers, he provides stability and reliability for staff and faculty alike.”

Learn more about Sullivan from the Center for Sexuality and Health Disparities.