[2] During her ACRL presidency, Sullivan successfully proposed the formation of the Leadership Institute for Academic Librarians at the Harvard Graduate School of Education; she also helped develop the curriculum and served as faculty for the program.

[6] During her time as president of ALA, one of Sullivan's main focuses was developing a training programs for community engagement that partnered with the Harwood Institute for Public Innovation.

[2][8] Along with her husband Jack Siggins, Sullivan has facilitated the TALL Texas Leadership Development Institute for over twenty years.

[9] Sullivan was named the 2010 Academic/Research Librarian of the Year by the Association of College and Research Libraries.

[2] The University of Maryland College of Information Studies named her their 2013 alumnus of the year, describing her as "a widely recognized leader and educator in the library profession.