Commerce selects USAID alum for Community Engagement Division assistant director

At Commerce, Sullivan will lead the Community Engagement Division, which works to expand community capacity, especially efforts around child care and equity, and to expand access to resources across Washington. It includes the Regional Community Engagement unit, whose regional engagement directors live in and serve communities statewide. Team members work closely with local leaders and organizations to help communities access support, resources, and funding. 

“Antoinette brings deep experience building partnerships and navigating complex challenges, and she knows how to translate that into meaningful support for communities,” said Commerce Interim Director Sarah Clifthorne. “She will strengthen how Commerce shows up across Washington, ensuring our Community Engagement and Outreach team is a clear, accessible front door for communities to connect with resources and access the investments that support communities and expand opportunity.”

Sullivan will support the agency as it builds on nearly two decades of equity-centered community engagement and community partnership under outgoing director Cheryl Smith, who retired in February.

"I’m passionate about supporting communities and working alongside my neighbors to improve quality of life and ensure equitable access to the resources and services,” Sullivan said. “As I step into this new role, I'm over the moon to be able to continue my career in public service in this beautiful corner of the PNW, supporting diverse communities across the state and making sure every voice shapes the decisions that affect their lives."

Commerce recently launched a new agency strategic plan, much of it based on the Community Engagement Division’s work. In 2025, the team led a statewide survey and series of focus groups to better understand how the agency can effectively support communities. More than 4,000 people participated, representing nonprofits, local governments, businesses, community organizations and individuals from every county in Washington. That feedback supported the agency’s new plan, refreshed mission statement, and its roadmap for the future, which Sullivan will help lead.

Sullivan has lived in Seattle since 2022. After graduating from the University of Virginia, she served as a Peace Corps volunteer. She went on to earn a Master of Public Health from Columbia University. She joined USAID in 2010 and served in multiple countries before moving to Seattle, where she continued her work in global public health. Sullivan’s background in foreign service assistance and public health positions enable her to support Commerce’s complex programs and strengthen collaboration with community and local organizations. In this role, she will help the agency to prioritize local needs, reduce gender and socioeconomic disparities, and ensure equitable delivery of services.

More information about the Community Engagement Division is available online.