Staff Directory

Shannon Cullinan

Executive Vice President
(574) 631-4700
execvp@nd.edu

Shannon Cullinan was elected executive vice president of the University of Notre Dame effective July 1, 2019, by the University’s Board of Trustees. In this role, Cullinan oversees the University’s $1.6 billion operating budget and leads the divisions that are responsible for operating the University including Campus Safety and Operations, Economic Development, Facilities Design and Operations, Finance, Human Resources, the Office of Information Technologies, the Investment Office and University Enterprises and Events.

Previously, Cullinan served as the vice president for finance at the University of Notre Dame since January 2017, a role in which he was responsible for the University budgets, capital planning, treasury management, procurement, real estate acquisitions and development, financial reporting and analysis, and accounting and financial services. Prior to that, Cullinan was the associate vice president for University Relations, a role in which he worked closely with trustee leadership, executive leadership, deans, and the University Relations team to oversee Notre Dame’s advancement and campaign efforts.

Cullinan graduated from Notre Dame in 1993 with a bachelor’s degree in accountancy. He returned to his alma mater in 2000, serving first as assistant vice president for Public Affairs and Communications. He went on to serve as assistant vice president for Development, and associate vice president for Continuous Improvement and Campus Services, with oversight for more than a dozen departments and 400 employees.

For four years prior to joining the University, Cullinan served as the associate executive director of the Center for the Homeless in South Bend, establishing it as a national model. During his tenure at the center, he served as the controller and created a commercial landscape business employing homeless men and women. He also owned and operated an advertising company before working at the center.

Cullinan serves on the board of directors of the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County, and enjoys contributing his time to the local community through events like the YMCA’s Greatest Chef. 

He earned his master of business administration degree with highest honors from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. Cullinan and his wife Sarah (ND ’95) have four children.

Karen Kennedy

Senior Advisor to the Executive Vice President
(574) 631-5173
karen.kennedy@nd.edu

Karen Kennedy serves as Senior Advisor to the Executive Vice President. In this role, she is responsible for providing support to the Executive Vice President on a variety of projects and initiatives and managing the day-to-day operations of the office. She holds a bachelor’s degree in science-business from the University of Notre Dame and a master’s degree in higher education administration from Boston College.  

Previously, Karen held a number of roles at Notre Dame, most recently as Program Director for ND Innovates in the Office of Strategic Planning and Institutional Research. She also spent nearly ten years working in the Division of Student Affairs, serving as Director of Student Centers, Activities, and Events, Director of Housing, and Senior Advisor to the Vice President for Student Affairs. Prior to returning to Notre Dame, Karen worked at Boston College for six years, during which time she served as Director of the Urban Catholic Teacher Corps and helped launch the Lynch Leadership Academy.  

Karen and her husband, Sean, are proud parents of three children, with whom they love to travel and visit National Parks.

Wilson Barrett

Communications and Project Specialist
(574) 631-7791
wbarrett@nd.edu

Holly Happ

Special Assistant
(574) 631-4700
Holly.Happ.2@nd.edu