ProLiteracy Appoints Kate Costello-Sullivan as New Board Chair
ProLiteracy, a global leader in adult education practice, is thrilled to announce the appointment of Kate Costello-Sullivan as its new Board Chair. Costello-Sullivan, a distinguished academic and longtime board member, will officially assume her two-year term, beginning October 5, 2024. This appointment comes on the heels of the successful ProLiteracy Conference on Adult Education, held in Baltimore, Maryland.
Costello-Sullivan, a professor and former Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York, brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to ProLiteracy’s mission. Her leadership will be instrumental in guiding the organization to continue transforming lives and communities through the power of adult literacy.
Costello-Sullivan takes the reins from Ginger Duiven, the outgoing Board Chair and Director of Institutional Relations for the Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services in New York, NY. Duiven’s tenure was marked by a growth mindset, expanding ProLiteracy’s reach and serving adult literacy programs in new and innovative ways. Under her leadership, the board fostered a more entrepreneurial strategy, forging partnerships with organizations like Guild and employer partners such as Target, Chipotle, and Hilton, creating a new funding source for adult education in the workplace.
“It has been my honor to lead ProLiteracy and to watch the organization’s continued growth and innovation to carry out its mission through the many changes our world has seen in the past four years,” Duiven remarked. “As I pass the torch to Kate, I am confident in her ability and shared passion to shepherd ProLiteracy forward.”
ProLiteracy is deeply grateful for Duiven’s dedication and service. She will remain a member at large on the board, continuing to contribute her expertise and insights.
“Ginger’s unwavering commitment and guidance over the past four years have been instrumental in strengthening our organization and advancing our mission,” said Mark Vineis, ProLiteracy president and CEO. “The expertise and energy Kate brings to this position will continue to fuel our momentum to shine a brighter light on the power of adult literacy.”
Costello-Sullivan expressed her enthusiasm for her new role, stating, “I’m inspired by the work of ProLiteracy, evidenced by my 8 years on the board. In accepting this honor to lead such an amazing nonprofit that has literally been a part of changing the lives of millions of people, I am humbled.”
About Kate Costello-Sullivan
Costello-Sullivan is a respected scholar and educator. She holds a distinguished position as a professor of Modern Irish Literature and served as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Le Moyne College. Her scholarly contributions include two monographs, “Mother/Country: Politics of the Personal in the Fiction of Colm Tóibín” and “Trauma and Recovery in the Twenty-First-Century Irish Novel.” She has also served as the editor for J. Sheridan Le Fanu’s novella “Carmilla” and Norah Hoult’s “Poor Women!” Her engagement with the academic community extends beyond her publications, having served as the past president of the American Conference for Irish Studies, the oldest Irish academic organization in the world. In this capacity, she frequently interacted with the Irish Embassy and collaborated with academics from around the globe. Costello-Sullivan currently holds the honor of being the first female editor of the Syracuse University Press Irish line, the oldest such series in North America.
About ProLiteracy
ProLiteracy is a global leader in adult education practice, dedicated to innovating and building the capacity of literacy programs around the world. Their work spans from small community-based organizations to large adult education programs and institutions, serving over 5,000 programs annually and collaborating with 32 partners worldwide. Through comprehensive training, professional learning, accessible research, grant funding, and cutting-edge digital and print learning resources through New Readers Press, ProLiteracy advocates for and empowers individuals through the transformative power of literacy.
Contact:
Allison Bleyler McDonald
amcdonald@proliteracy.org
1-888-528-2224
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at [https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/854275e4-1a9d-4a96-b499-8a452842794c](https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/854275e4-1a9d-4a96-b499-8a452842794c)
