Welcome Message
As Associate Dean for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), my job is to promote initiatives that celebrate the rich diversity that exists in our School and create an environment that feels inclusive to all students and staff. I feel passionately about EDI and believe that making it a dimension of our School activities will yield enormous benefits for our students and staff alike, and for those with whom we interact.
I am involved in a number of other EDI activities throughout the University. I chair the UCD EDI Sub-Group on Disability, I am a member of the University’s Mental Health First Aid Panel and I am a Faculty Partner for UCD’s Universal Design for Learning Initiative. I also have a personal interest in EDI issues as I live with a disability myself (multiple sclerosis).
I took on the role of Associate Dean for EDI in September 2021, following the outstanding work of my predecessor Professor Frank Monahan who is now our Head of School. In 2019, we were awarded the Athena SWAN Bronze award which recognised our commitment to gender equality and our ambition to achieve it across all staff and student roles and activities in the School. In 2023, we received the higher level Athena SWAN Silver award, in recognition of our progress on gender equality within the School. My work is supported by a committed team of students and staff who are members of the School’s EDI committee.
Dr Deirdre O’Connor
Lecturer in Resource Economics and Associate Dean for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Email:(opens in a new window)(opens in a new window)deirdre.oconnor@ucd.ie