Dr Greg Foley Obituary
Associate Professor Greg Foley from Dublin City University’s School of Biotechnology lectured in bioprocess engineering in DCU since 1986, and did research in the analysis and design of membrane filtration systems, an area in which he has published more than 40 papers in international journals. He is the author of Membrane Filtration - A Problem solving approach with MATLAB (Cambridge University Press, 2013).
From October 2014 to February 2018 he was the Associate Dean for Teaching and Learning in the Faculty of Science and Health. He is a graduate of UCD (BE, Chemical Engineering 1984; PhD, Chemical Engineering 1994) and Cornell University (MS, Chemical Engineering, 1986).
Responding to the news of Associate Prof Foley’s passing, Prof Daire Keogh, President of Dublin City University said:
“Greg was a wonderful colleague, teacher, and friend. Deeply committed to our students, and passionate about quality, he played a prophetic role within DCU, challenging us and calling us to our priorities. During his more than three decades working at DCU he made a huge contribution to the University community and he will be greatly missed by his colleagues, students, and friends.”
Executive Dean of the DCU’s Faculty of Science and Health Michelle Butler said:
“Greg’s passing is a huge loss for all of us at the Faculty of Science and Health. He will be sadly missed and will be remembered as a kind and valued colleague and a committed teacher who was passionate about his work in the field of Biotechnology. Greg provided significant leadership in the faculty over the years, with important contributions as Associate Dean for Teaching and Learning and as the Lead for Innovation in Teaching and Learning. Our deepest condolences to his family and friends.”
Paul Cahill, Head of the School of Biotechnology said:
"Greg was an Associate Professor of Bioprocess Engineering in the School of Biotechnology, DCU. He was admitted into hospital with Covid just after the New Year and fought a courageous battle until the end.
"Greg was an esteemed colleague, a chemical engineer with a PhD in membrane filtration from University College Dublin and author of Membrane Filtration – A Problem Solving Approach with MATLAB, published by Cambridge University Press in 2013. He held a master’s degree in chemical engineering from Cornell University and was a former UCD Newman Scholar. His main area of expertise was in the modelling, analysis and design of membrane systems, especially microfiltration and ultrafiltration. He authored over 30 membrane-related papers in international journals including 13 in the top-ranked journal, Journal of Membrane Science.
"Greg was passionate about different pedagogical approaches to learning and served as Associate Dean for Teaching and Learning within the Faculty of Science and Health from 2014-2017. He was integral to the development of the Futures program within the School of Biotechnology and championed this initiative for undergraduate education for the 21st century within the School and across the Faculty to meet the challenge of empowering students in preparation for a world defined by increasing uncertainty.
"Greg was totally committed to the core mission of the School of Biotechnology from its earliest days, and was highly respected by all the staff and students for his focus, steadfastness and loyalty to the School. His legacy is one of impact, crafting a memorable classroom experience for students to make a difference in their lives through professionalism, viewpoint diversity, impulse to learn and engaged questioning.
"Greg had a wonderful love of cats and was always happy to talk about them and share his favourite YouTube videos of their many talents. He also had a passion for Jaffa cakes, especially while watching cricket, but will be remembered by many more for his wonderfully scripted Educational blog and more recently for his informative and thought provoking Twitter feed. But most of all, he will be remembered for his collegiality, thoughtful friendship and humour and will be sorely missed by all his colleagues in the School, Faculty and wider University.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with his son Leo and wife Julie at this difficult time."
Details of Greg Foley's funeral arrangements are available here.