Last month, Eileen Sullivan, vice provost for student affairs and dean of students at Grand Valley State University, requested a leave of absence and was granted it immediately.

“Dean Sullivan has requested—and the university has granted her—a special administrative leave of absence,” said GVSU President Thomas Haas in an email Monday, May 19.

Sullivan started working at GVSU July 1, 2016. Her leave began Tuesday, May 9.

Mary Eilleen Lyon, associate vice president for University Communications, issued the following email statement to the Grand Valley Lanthorn on behalf of the university:

“Dr. Eileen Sullivan is on leave. For the immediate interim, Dr. Jesse Bernal has agreed to fill in until an acting vice provost and dean of students has been named. Thereafter, we will begin a search for a new vice provost and dean of students.”

Lyon also clarified that “it is a personal leave.”