People 2023-2024
Honorary Doctors
In October 2023, DCU conferred two honorary awards. The Doctor of Philosophy (Honoris Causa) was conferred on John Saunders, President and CEO of FleishmanHillard, the leading global public relations agency. In his citation, Martin Molony, DCU School of Communications, said: "John has used his leadership of FleishmanHillard to put diversity and equality at the forefront of their business and galvanised their clients to do the same.” The Doctor of Philosophy (Honoris Causa) was also conferred on Terence O’Rourke, chairperson of ESB and former Managing Partner of KPMG. Mr O’Rourke was a member of the DCU Governing Authority for eight years up to 2021. In her citation, Deputy President of DCU, Prof Anne Sinnott, said: “Throughout his career, Terence has demonstrated a commitment to public service. His voluntary contributions to the arts, education and other fields have had a real impact."
Special Awards
The DCU’s Prof Gary Murphy was admitted to the Royal Irish Academy (RIA) in May 2024. He was one of 28 newly elected members officially admitted to the Academy for their exceptional contributions to the sciences, humanities and social sciences and to public service. Prof Murphy has worked in DCU since 1995, and is now Full Professor of Politics in the School of Law and Government. He is an acknowledged authority internationally on the subject of political lobbying and an expert in the reconstruction and interpretation of Irish politics in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Associate Professor in General Nursing at the School of Nursing, Psychotherapy and Community Health, Dr Amanda Drury was awarded an Irish Research Council (IRC) Researcher of the Year commendation. Dr Drury has worked as a nurse in cancer care settings offering chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments. The research projects that Dr Drury is working on focus on how healthcare professionals and cancer support services can best support people living with and after cancer to live well, and cope with the physical, psychological and social effects of cancer and its treatment.
DCU Chancellor
In November 2023, Brid Horan’s outstanding contribution to the governance and advancement of the University was recognised, as she was reappointed Chancellor of DCU for a second term. The decision was approved by a unanimous vote by the University’s Governing Authority, and she will serve as Chancellor until July 2025. First appointed to the position in September 2021, Brid Horan has over 30 years’ experience in executive, non-executive, and voluntary roles in leading private and public sector organisations and a distinguished record of service and advocacy in NGOs and the arts.
Athena Swan
The University has worked harder than ever in recent years to ensure that DCU’s staff are able to flourish in an inclusive environment. This work was validated in September when DCU received the Athena Swan Silver Award of its commitment to advancing gender equality and creating cultural change within the university. Since gaining the Athena Swan Bronze award in 2017, DCU has achieved an appropriate balance of gender representation on Senior Management and University Executive, while approximately half of Heads of School and Associate Professors are now female.
DCU President’s Awards 2024
The annual President’s Awards give recognition to excellence and achievement in the DCU community. The winners of the 2024 President's Awards for Engagement included The DCU Tanzania Pre-Primary Education team and a student volunteer on Coimisiún na Meán’s Youth Advisory Committee. Commitment, enthusiasm and enjoyment were the hallmarks of the President’s Awards for Excellence in Teaching and Learning. Researchers whose work focuses on novel biomedical devices, the treatment of dementia patients and the efficacy of climate adaptation governance were honoured at the President’s Awards for Research. The President’s Awards for Professional Staff were awarded for achievements in student mobility, academic support, digital transformation and human resources.
DCU Alumni Awards 2024
In January, the contribution of DCU graduates was recognised in the 2024 Alumni Awards. The recipients were: Dr. John Gerard Cannon (BSc Applied Physics, 2010), President Irish Medical Organisation; Maria Kinsella (BSc in Accounting and Finance, 2012 - MSc in Accounting, 2013), Chartered Accountant - PwC; Lucy Nugent (BA Nursing Studies, 2003), CEO Tallaght University Hospital; Martina Quinn (BA Journalism, 2003), Founder and Managing Director, Alice; Kevin Shortall (BRel Sc Mater Dei 1996, MRel Sc 2001), Principal St. Aidan's Community School, Tallaght; Kevin Tuohy (BSc Computer Applications 1999), Director of Software Engineering & IT People & Finance Aer Lingus; Sorcha Edwards (BA Applied Languages 1998), General Secretary of Housing of Europe, and Zia Karim (PhD Electronic Engineering, 1993), Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Yield Engineering Systems (YES) in Fremont, California. The following month, the Leadership Circle Awards Dinner honoured some of DCU’s leading supporters and the powerful impact of their philanthropy. The Individual Leadership Award for 2023/24 went to DCU’s anonymous donors, represented by Community Foundation Ireland. The Staff Leadership Award was presented to the Director of SFI Insight, Professor Noel O’Connor, for his work in building partnerships that advance philanthropy. The Corporate Leadership Award was presented to KPMG in recognition of their continued partnership with the university and their philanthropic support for DCU students over many years.
Remembrance
In October 2023, the University mourned the loss of the renowned philanthropist Chuck Feeney. Mr Feeney, who championed ‘Giving While Living’ who contributed €175 million to the development of DCU. His generosity helped to build the Helix, DCU Sports Complex and the O’Reilly Library, among other key facilities. Mr Feeney gave away more than $8 billion of his fortune to charity through Atlantic Philanthropies. On the University’s St Patrick’s Campus an event was held in November 2023 for the dedication of the Eileen Randles Lecture Theatre. A member of the Loreto Sisters, she was seen as one of the most influential figures in the evolution of the school system in Ireland. She held several leadership roles, including school principal, community leader and member of the provincial council. She latterly served as president of the Mater Dei Institute of Education, one of the institutions incorporated into DCU in 2016.