Richard Cullen is a 1971 graduate of Furman, where he majored in Political Science and played varsity football. He received a law degree from the University of Richmond in 1977, where he was editor in chief of the law review and a member of ODK. In 1998, he was awarded the University of Richmond Distinguished Alumni Award.  He also received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Virginia Union University.

Richard is currently senior partner and former chairman of McGuire Woods LLP, a law firm with over 1000 lawyers and 23 offices in the United States and abroad. He has spent his professional career at McGuire Woods, taking leave on three occasions for public service assignments. In 1987, he was a special counsel to the U.S. Senate for the Iran-Contra investigation. He was appointed by President George H.W. Bush as the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, serving from 1991 to 1993. And in 1997, Virginia Governor George Allen appointed him the Commonwealth's 39th Attorney General.

Richard has been appointed to a number of boards and commissions, including the Virginia Historical Society, the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Business Foundation, the Board of Visitors of Virginia Military Institute, and is a board member of the Supreme Court Historical Society.

Richard previously served on Furman's advisory and parents councils.

He and his wife, Agnes Tullidge Cullen have four grown children and seven grandchildren. Their two sons, Thomas (2000) and Richard (2007) graduated from Furman, as did Thomas' wife, Amy (2000).