Four Trinity staff members received honorary membership of the Graduate Students’ Union (GSU) last night at the annual postgraduate Christmas Commons in the Dining Hall.
Dean of Postgraduate Studies Neville Cox; Dean of Students Kevin O’Kelly; Ciara Joyce – who serves as postgraduate liaison officer of the Student Counselling Service – and assistant librarian Niamh Brennan were the staff members honoured last night.
Nominated by GSU Vice-President Gisèle Scanlon, the four received an award given for contributions made to postgraduate students in College.
Speaking to The University Times, Scanlon said she works “closely with these four individuals particularly”.
She added: “There’s a forthcoming Strategic Plan in Trinity that’s committed to undertaking the systemic renewal of postgraduate education. And these four people are the embodiment of the building blocks of that idea. They stand out as being exemplary.”
Last night, Scanlon said she was “delighted that the GSU is able to recognise the many wonderful acts and deeds done by these outstanding people on behalf of our postgraduate community. Much of this goes unseen day to day and so it is important to be able to highlight these individuals and thank them for their work”.
Brennan, a previous recipient of the GSU’s Lifelong Contribution Award, has undertaken a number of initiatives around open scholarship. Joyce is the Student Counselling Service’s first postgraduate liaison counsellor.
Cox has served as the dean of graduate studies since 2016, while O’Kelly has been the dean of students since 2014. He is the project sponsor for Printing House Square, Trinity’s upcoming accommodation complex.
Other previous recipients of honorary GSU membership include Martin McAndrew, Trinity’s postgraduate student support officer, and Senator David Norris. Both were present at last night’s ceremony.
