Human Rights in Practice: John Sullivan

The Human Rights in Practice series is an ongoing program aimed to allow students to engage with international law and human rights practitioners in an informal setting to explore diverse career paths in the field. 

John Sullivan is Executive Vice President and General Counsel at Carlson Inc. For our “Human Rights in Practice” John will be sharing about his extensive experience working to advance LGBTQ rights and equality. 

John was a founding member of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Business Council in 1997 and served as its co-chair from 2001 to 2003, during which time HRC published its first annual Corporate Equality Index. He also served on the HRC Board of Governors from 1999 to 2003, on the national Board of Directors from 2003 until 2007, and then on the Emeritus Council.

John was on the Board of Directors and served as Corporate Secretary for Minnesotans United for All Families, the organization formed to defeat the constitutional amendment limiting the freedom to marry. He also organized and led Lawyers United for All Families, a coalition partner of Minnesotans United consisting of members of the legal community.

John currently serves as Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Minneapolis Foundation and on the Board of Directors for the Matthew Shepard Foundation. John is a graduate of The University of St. Thomas and the University of Notre Dame Law School and he has taught as an adjunct faculty member of the University of Minnesota Law School.