Professor Barbara Dooley is the Ad Astra Academy Director and is a Full Professor of Psychology. She has served as the UCD Dean of Graduate Studies (2014-2024) and Deputy Registrar (2022-2024), Vice-Principal for Teaching and Learning in the UCD College of Social Sciences and Law (2009-2014) and Head of the UCD School of Psychology (2005-2009).
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Darina is the Manager of the Ad Astra Academy where she leads the academic, elite sports and performing arts scholarships. In addition, she manages the Ad Astra Academic Scholarship Programme.
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Professor Regina Uí Chollatáin is the Principal and Dean of UCD College of Arts and Humanities and Senior Professor and Chair of Modern Irish and Literature. She has recently completed six years as Head of the UCD School of Irish, Celtic Studies and Folklore and Head of Irish Studies.
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Professor Catherine Blake was the Dean and Head of the School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science from 2019-2024. She has experience in a range of research methodologies relevant to sport and health research, with over 120 peer-reviewed publications. She has a strong background in statistics and data analytics and is currently statistical advisor for the Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy.
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Micheal graduated from University of Limerick with a Bachelor of Science in Sport and Exercise Sciences. He has worked across a number of sports and has vast experience in Long Term Athletic Development. Micheal has worked with the IRFU and Connacht Rugby for over 10 years, overseeing the Strength and Conditioning in the Connacht Pathway. As the lead Strength and Conditioning coach for the Irish Rugby U20’s, he contributed to their success during the 2022 and 2023 Grand Slams and helped them reach the Junior World Cup final in 2023.
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Craig graduated with a BSc in Sport Science & Health from Dublin City University. Craig moves from a performance support role with Cycling Ireland working with their Olympic and Paralympic programmes throughout the Tokyo 2020 cycle.
Craig is an NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and IRFU Certified Conditioning Coach. He has worked in Strength & Conditioning and Sport Science roles with a variety of sports organisations including Cycling Ireland, the Sport Ireland Institute and Hockey Ireland in addition to AIL Rugby, inter-county GAA and League of Ireland soccer teams.
Domenico Crognale is a Sport & Exercise Scientist at UCD and currently manages the Human Performance Laboratory in ISH. He completed his PhD at UCD and obtained his BSc and MSc in Sports Science and Coaching at the University Institute of Movement Sciences, Rome, Italy.
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Liam is the founder of Dublin Back Clinic, and is one of Ireland’s most experienced back and neck rehabilitation specialists. He holds a Masters Degree in Sports Medicine from Trinity College Dublin, as well as his undergraduate Physiotherapy Degree from Satakunnan University in Finland.
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Tony Carey was awarded his B. Comm. (1987) and his MBS (1988) from UCD. On leaving university, he worked as a management consultant with Andersen Consulting (now Accenture) and IBM Business Consulting Services for a total of fifteen years.
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Kellie is a highly trained theatre-artist with twenty years of professional experience as a director, writer, performer and collaborator. Her work has toured extensively both nationally and internationally.
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Thérèse enjoys a varied career playing both modern & Baroque violin. She combines playing with teaching and tutoring chamber music ensembles.
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Ciarán is Head of the UCD School of Music and Assistant Professor of Orchestral Conducting.
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Eamonn Jordan is Professor in Drama Studies at the School of English, Drama and Film, University College Dublin.
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