BRENDEN SULLIVAN
Information Technologists
HOMETOWN: GLENS FALLS, NEW YORK 2008 GRADUATE OF SUNY ADIRONDACK WITH A DEGREE IN LIBERAL ARTS 2011 GRADUATE OF THE COLLEGE OF SAINT ROSE WITH A BACHELOR’S DEGREE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION 2022 GRADUATE OF SUNY ADIRONDACK WITH A DEGREE IN IT: CYBERSECURITY CURRENTLY: OWNER OF ARTIFICE TECHNOLOGIES; TECHNICAL SUPPORT SPECIALIST AT SUNY ADIRONDACK A conversation with Brenden Sullivan is as likely to turn to the best way to prepare osso bucco as it is “Doctor Who,” bass guitar or cyber attacks. He speaks of his passion for British television as naturally as he discusses building a local area network. But the SUNY Adirondack technical support specialist’s eyes really light up when he starts talking about cybersecurity.
“It’s pretty awesome to be able to do something you enjoy, you’re good at and to help a community that helps so many students,” said Sullivan, who graduated in May with a degree in Information Technology: Cybersecurity. Sullivan first attended SUNY Adirondack after high school, when he wasn’t sure what he wanted to do. Professor Drew Costa cultivated a love of philosophy in Sullivan — his penchant for TV shows and movies that examine morality, humanity and interconnectivity shows the subject hasn’t strayed far from his heart — so he took every course the college offered.
“My original goal was a Ph.D. in philosophy,” he said. “But I was graduating during the Great Recession and Professor Dave Matthews made an impression on me, so I switched my focus to business.” He transferred to The College of Saint Rose, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. That degree led him to bank management, at which he was successful for a decade. After some personal struggles with an unhealthy relationship and trying another financial institution, Sullivan looked at his life and decided his career wasn’t best for him. “It was stressful and left a lot of negative energy,” he admitted. As he started rebuilding his life (a phase he calls “transitory”), he found love. “My partner, who is going to law school, said, ‘I get to pursue my passion in a few years, you should try to go for yours.’” So, he registered for classes at SUNY Adirondack. “That was a big turning point for me,” he said. “Doing something multiple days a week that made me happy and that I’m good at was a turning point.” Sullivan, who spoke openly about being neurodivergent (“textbook ADHD, executive functioning disorder and
recovering from PTSD,” he explained), said he never felt settled before. “I never knew what I wanted to do — I mean, I switched majors five times — but here I have this feeling of belonging. I’m good at it, it comes more naturally to me than anything in the world,” he said. He has seemingly tried a bit of everything, hobby wise. He geeks out when he discusses his home theater (an HD projector, surround sound, a dropdown screen and an extensive digitized collection of favorite movies and TV shows); his music (he has played bass for more than 20 years in a half-dozen regional bar bands); audio books (he listens while running software updates); and his love of cooking (he rents a storage unit to house his many novelty cooking instruments, including a dehydrator and a deli slicer, among countless other gadgets). His innate ability with computers, though, is evident, as he runs his own IT firm. “I’m always going to be an entrepreneur,” he said. “Having something on the side helps provide a creative outlet for ADHD.” His full-time gig, though, is as a Tech Services specialist at SUNY Adirondack. “I don’t know where I’d be if it weren’t for this program. I credit it with a lot of my personal growth."