Written by Stephanie Gordon
Nolan Sullivan, ’22, didn’t intend to go to Hillsdale College. The Hillsdale native and Hillsdale Academy grad thought he would leave his hometown to experience life beyond its familiarity. Nolan feels “blessed beyond belief” that he attended Hillsdale College and still calls Hillsdale home.
“I loved growing up in Hillsdale,” Nolan said. “It’s such a great place, but as I got older, I thought I wanted out of Hillsdale. I was worried about the familiarity of Hillsdale. I thought that I needed new scenery to receive new challenges. With some positive peer pressure, I applied to Hillsdale College. But it still felt a little too close to home.”
After receiving his acceptance letter, Nolan embraced the opportunity to attend Hillsdale. The College wasn’t completely unfamiliar because his parents, Tim and Jackie Sullivan, ’85, ’87, are proud alums. “I quickly learned that it’s a different world up the hill,” he said. “I was able to go to college with some close friends, which made my experience memorable. A common theme throughout my life has been my friends and their support.”
Calling himself a “chronically over-involved student,” Nolan was president of the College’s Investment Club and helped manage a “small portion” of the College’s endowment through the club. He was also involved in club soccer and choir, played in a campus band, and hosted a sports radio show with friends at the College’s student radio station.
Outside of his dear friendships and campus involvement, the financial management major said he’s always loved the liberal arts. “I love history and literature and writing,” said Nolan. “And, because of the College’s core curriculum, I still got to study all of these things while pursuing finance. I enjoy the financial world, and I knew the financial world would be stable.”
Nolan said that Dr. Kenneth Calvert and Dr. Robert Atra made the biggest impact on him at Hillsdale. “Dr. Calvert has made a big impact on me throughout my life,” Nolan explained. “I had him for a few classes at the College, but he was also my headmaster at the Academy. We’ve had a special handshake since I was in the seventh grade. Dr. Atra taught me what the professional financial world is like and helped set me up for success in my field.”
Upon graduation, Nolan thought he would leave Hillsdale at last. “I thought maybe I would move to New York or Chicago,” he said. “I applied to a few jobs in those cities because if I was going to be in finance, I wanted to go all the way. But every single time I’ve tried to leave Hillsdale, the Lord has come through with a much better plan. Who am I to fight that?”
John Waldvogel, ’91, with Waldvogel Wealth Management through Edward Jones in Hillsdale, met with Nolan. “I had been curious for some time about becoming a financial advisor,” Nolan said. “I felt as though it was a good blend of my social nature and the more technical analysis I enjoyed in the classroom. After meeting with John, he thought I would be a good fit for his team. The opportunity made me consider all that I’d miss if I left Hillsdale—coaching, friends, and family. This realization was a huge turning point for me. I would get to do what I love in my hometown.”
In addition to his financial advisor work, Nolan currently serves as president-elect of the Hillsdale Rotary Club. He will become the service organization’s president in the summer of 2026. He is Hillsdale Academy’s head eighth-grade basketball coach and the assistant varsity soccer coach for the boys’ programs. He’s also active in St. Anthony’s Youth Faith Formation program and the Stewardship Committee.
“I’m grateful for the formation this town and college have given me,” Nolan said. “The gift of life, I think, is the thing I’m most grateful to have learned in Hillsdale. My goal, in my career and life, is to steward well in whatever context the Lord gives me. Practically speaking, my goal is to do that by listening to the people I interact with daily, whether in the office, on the basketball court, or on the soccer field. That’s why I love my job so much—I get to listen to others and help them plan a route to confidently achieve their desired goals.”
When asked if he would ever move from Hillsdale, Nolan joyfully responded: “I fully intend to be a Hillsdale lifer.”
Stephanie Gordon, a lifelong Hillsdale native, is the managing editor of Virtue and Valor: The Official Blog of Hillsdale College. She is married to chiropractor, Dr. Matt Gordon, and has three children – Eloise, Flora, and Jack. She enjoys baking, floating on Baw Beese Lake, Detroit Lions football, and breaking a sweat at the gym.
Published in April 2026
