By the late 1980s, St. John’s University recognized the need for a facility to support its expanding education programs. Sullivan Hall, located on the Queens, NY campus, began construction in February 1988 and was dedicated on August 12, 1989. It honors Eugene Sullivan ’42C, ’73HON, the first layperson to chair the Board of Trustees at St. John’s University.

The building was part of infrastructure investments that transitioned St. John's from a commuter institution to a more residential university. Initially housing classrooms and lecture rooms, it preceded the University's residence halls by ten years.

Established in 1908, The School of Education at St. John's was among the first in New York State to award graduate degrees to teachers. It continues to prepare educators committed to socially responsible education.

In September 2023, St. John's completed renovations on Sullivan Hall's first floor, modernizing offices for The School of Education and affiliated Vincentian mission organizations.

Eugene Sullivan had a long career with Borden Inc., reflecting his role as an educator and benefactor of St. John’s University’s mission. His financial generosity and commitment were acknowledged by naming Sullivan Hall after him.

At the dedication ceremony, Mr. Sullivan expressed gratitude towards Vincentian priests who educated him: “I was repaying a debt to St. John’s,” he stated.

Despite financial challenges during his youth, Mr. Sullivan attended St. John’s after his mother arranged an affordable tuition payment plan with a priest.

Throughout his executive career, Mr. Sullivan maintained ties with his alma mater by starting an executive-in-residence program and becoming an adjunct professor in 1973.

During dedication ceremonies, he emphasized: “It is not good enough to honor the letter of the law; you must honor the spirit of the law.”

Sullivan Hall remains both a physical and symbolic representation of St. John’s dedication to training educators and advancing social justice while honoring alumni leadership that shaped its trajectory.