Richard “Dick” Sullivan has been chosen to deliver the commencement address to the class of 2026 and will be an honorary degree recipient. Sullivan is a class of 79 alumni and has created an accomplished business career. 

Sullivan has worked as the Chief Marketing Officer with The Home Depot, Executive Vice President with the NFL Atlanta Falcons team and was the former Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of PGA Tour Superstore. He announced his retirement from PGA Tour Superstore this past April after 15 years with the company.

In 2021, Sullivan was named A Most Admired CEO by the Atlanta Business Chronicle and became the first retailer to ever be selected as chairman of the National Golf Foundation during his tenure. He added 66 retail locations and drove sales growth of more than 650 percent. 

Sullivan has given back to the RWU community as an alumnus. He established the Dick Sullivan Sports Business Forum Classroom in the Gabelli School of Business and has been able to bring speakers and sports scholars to the Sports Management Program which added the Sports Management major this past fall.