University College Dublin's appointment of new president welcomed by Minister Harris
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Ó: An Roinn Breisoideachais agus Ardoideachais, Taighde, Nuálaíochta agus Eolaíochta
- Foilsithe: 21 Feabhra 2023
- An t-eolas is déanaí: 12 Aibreán 2025
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris has today welcomed the appointment of Professor Orla Feely as the next President of University College Dublin.
Minister Harris was speaking after the Governing Authority of UCD approved the appointment.
Speaking today, Minister Harris said:
"I wish to congratulate Orla on her appointment. This is a huge personal achievement for her, but also a significant milestone for the university.
"Orla becomes the first female president of the university. She also becomes our seventh female president of a higher education university. Two-and a-half years ago, we had no female presidents.
"There have been improvements in addressing the gender imbalance in higher education in recent years and today is another major milestone. I hope it sends a strong message to everyone involved in the higher education sector and beyond - a message of inclusion, equality and opportunity for all."
Professor Feely has been a lecturer in UCD since 1992, and became Vice-President for Research, Innovation and Impact at the university in 2014.
She holds a BE degree from UCD and MS and PhD degrees from University of California, Berkeley, where Professor Feely's PhD thesis won the DJ Sakrison Memorial Prize for outstanding and innovative research.
Professor Feely's research has been in the area of nonlinear circuits and systems, and she has been awarded research grants and prizes from a number of national and international sources.
Professor Mark Rogers, UCD Deputy President and Registrar, had been acting president since Professor Andrew Deeks left the role in 2021.
Minister Harris added:
“UCD are very lucky to have someone of Professor Feely’s experience and calibre, and I want to wish her the very best in her new role over the coming years.
“I also want to take this opportunity to thank both Professor Mark Rogers and Professor Andrew Deeks for all their hard work over the past few years in helping make UCD the world-class institution it is today.”