It is with great sadness and a profound sense of loss that the Grossman School of Business writes to acknowledge the tragic and unexpected death of our long-time colleague, Sarah O’Sullivan. Sarah and her son, Liam, were both killed in an accident over the Labor Day weekend during a family gathering, leaving a hole in the University of Vermont community. Sarah had been an employee of UVM for the past 13 years, working for Risk Management & Safety, the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, and most recently for UVM Foundation, but the bulk of her career was spent at the Grossman School of Business where she served as an executive assistant to Dean Sanjay Sharma from 2019 through his retirement in June of 2026.
“Working with Sarah, I only saw strengths and admirable qualities which grew over time,” recalled Dean Sharma. “Sarah always took responsibility and jumped in selflessly to help and complete any task that any faculty or staff member was struggling with. I have rarely worked with an admin assistant who exhibited the high level of personal responsibility, high integrity and ethical standards, dedication to the institution, and work ethic as did Sarah.”
Part of Sarah’s duties as Dean Sharma’s Executive Assistant meant dealing directly with the Grossman School Board of Advisors, a group that would gather twice annually for intense days of reflection and planning the future of the business school. Sarah’s presence was essential to creating the welcoming and productive atmosphere that was the setting for many of Grossman School’s major decisions. “Sarah was amazing in her attention to detail,” reflected Board Member Jim Keller. “She will especially be remembered for the way that she dealt with all her constituents - how she treated people with respect, dignity, openness, and most importantly her friendliness.”
Sarah also believed in the strength of academics, balancing her roles as mother, staff member, and student as she steadily worked towards a bachelor’s degree. Her commitment to her studies was an inspiration to those around her, and it only strengthened her reputation as a woman with a “can do” attitude. Sarah refused to leave a problem without a solution, and her creativity and thoughtfulness saturated every ounce of support that she gave to her fellow staff members, the GSB faculty, and the friends and family that she leaves behind.
The death of Sarah O’Sullivan has impacted the UVM family on a campus-wide scale. If you are struggling with grief or need someone to talk with, please know that UVM’s Employee Assistance Program is available to support you. Services provided by InvestEAP can be found on their website, or by calling their Immediate Clinical Line at 866-660-9533.
If you feel compelled, we invite you to share your thoughts, photos, and memories with us here at the Grossman School of Business via GSBCommunications@uvm.edu. At the time of the writing of this article, service plans are still being arranged, but we encourage everyone to take a moment to remember Sarah and the positivity that she brought each day to campus.