The path Sullivan followed to the environmental field has many twists and turns. She always dreamed of opening a medical clinic and theater in a small town. This dream evolved as she settled into her family life and obtained a position working with an environmental engineering firm as a secretary and technician. In this position, Sullivan wrote reports and proposals regarding environmental remediation. While her colleagues in the environmental engineering firm encouraged her to return to school to obtain an additional degree in environmental engineering, Sullivan chose a slightly different direction: law school. Sullivan enrolled at Wayne State University and received her law degree in 1997. While enrolled at Wayne State University, Sullivan interned with the Sugar Law Center, a non-profit whose mission is to provide legal advocacy and support to oppressed and disenfranchised individuals and communities and those seeking social change. As an intern, she helped to establish the organization’s first environmental justice attorney position, which she filled upon completing her degree. Sullivan worked with the Sugar Law Center from 1997 until September 2000, when she left to begin her current work as the Staff Attorney and Program Director for Alternatives for Community and Environment in Roxbury, Massachusetts. She credits having a sincere interest in the issues and communities with which she works as having helped her to progress through her environmental career.

Before law school, Quita Sullivan worked as a Stage Manager at ETA in Chicago. Sullivan was the first stage manager for their production of Checkmates, written by Ron Milner and directed by Woodie King, Jr. She later worked as an associate at Great Lakes Performing Artist Associates, a not-for-profit artist management office. In this role, she created contracts and managed the booking and performing fees for the Great Lakes area musicians.

After earning her law degree from Wayne State University, Sullivan practiced environmental justice law for ten years in Detroit and Boston. She was responsible for the oversight of Sugar Law Center’s Great Lakes Environmental and Legal Training Program. In Boston, she provided legal support and counsel to other Alternatives for Community and Environment (ACE)-led coalitions and member initiatives.

In 2001, Sullivan was selected for the two-year Environmental Leadership Program fellowship program. In 2006, she was awarded the Diversity Fellow by the Associated Grantmakers. Associated Grantmakers’ mission is to identify, recruit, and develop practitioners of color representing the next generation of philanthropic leaders.  

Sullivan frequently speaks supporting Indigenous Artists and Land Acknowledgement. Before joining the New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) as a staff member, Sullivan was an advisor for NEFA’s Native Arts Program. NEFA is a regional arts organization with the goal of enriching the cultural landscape in New England and the nation by investing in artists and communities and fostering equitable access to funding for the arts. Sullivan supports equity and inclusion at all levels of theater and grant-making.

In addition to her work, Sullivan continues to develop her artistic talents as a beadwork artist. She is of counsel to and an enrolled member of the Montaukett tribe. She has also achieved the rank of Shodan (first degree) in Ueichi Ryu karate.