John O'Halloran (academic)

John O'Halloran
16th President of University College Cork
Assumed office
2021
Preceded byPatrick G. O'Shea
Personal details
Born1961 or 1962 (age 62–63)[1]
NationalityIrish
Alma mater
ProfessionOrnithologist
Academic administrator
Scientific career
FieldsOrnithology
Institutions
ThesisLead toxicity in Mute swans Cygnus olor (Gmelin) (1987)
Doctoral advisorA.A. Myers

John O'Halloran is an Irish scientist, university lecturer, ornithologist and academic administrator. In August 2021, he was appointed as the sixteenth President of University College Cork.[2][3][1][4]

Biography

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O’Halloran was born in Cork, the second youngest of eight children.[5] He is a past pupil of Douglas Community School. O’Halloran first studied at UCC as an undergraduate student of Zoology. He was awarded a doctorate of science (DSc) by the National University of Ireland for his published works in 2009 and he previously held academic posts at Colby College in Maine in the United States and the University of Wales in Cardiff.

Career

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O’Halloran was appointed the 16th president of UCC in August 2021, aged 59, having served as interim president since September 2020. He previously served as deputy president and registrar while he was also vice-president for teaching and learning and vice-head of the College of Science, Engineering and Food Science.[2] He was a founder of the Quercus Talented Students Programme and Co-Chair of the UCC Green Campus forum.[6] He led UCC’s first Academic Strategy.[7]

O’Halloran is an ornithologist who received his PhD in 1987 and held the chair in zoology at UCC as of 2021. The Irish Examiner described him as a zoologist and ecologist.[8]

According to the Irish Times, O’Halloran “has authored a significant body of international research papers and several book chapters which focus on the ecological impacts of land-use change and climate change on our community, and he has supervised 75 PhD and research Masters students to completion.”

O’Halloran was vice-president of the British Trust for Ornithology and a former executive board member of BirdWatch Ireland. He is also chairman of the board of Fota Wildlife Park and has served as chairman of the biology and ecology panel of the BT Young Scientist for more than two decades. He was also Chair of Ireland’s Countryside Bird Survey Steering Committee and an advisor to the European Environment Agency.

Personal life

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A native of Douglas in Cork City, Prof O’Halloran is married to UCC medical graduate and director of the National Cancer Registry, Prof Deirdre Murray. They have three children.[1][9]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Roche, Barry. "University College Cork appoints Prof John O'Halloran as president". The Irish Times. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  2. ^ a b Casey, Jess (3 August 2021). "UCC appoints Professor John O'Halloran as president". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  3. ^ "University College Cork appoints new President". University College Cork. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  4. ^ O'Shea, Joe (3 August 2021). "UCC confirms native Leesider John O'Halloran as new president". Cork Beo. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  5. ^ O’Driscoll, Des (26 November 2020). "Question of Taste: Prof John O'Halloran of UCC picks his favourite books, music, films, etc". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  6. ^ McCarthy, Maebh (15 September 2020). "Professor John O'Halloran announced as UCC's Interim President". University Express. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  7. ^ "Professor John O'Halloran appointed as sixteenth President of UCC". echo live. 3 August 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  8. ^ Casey, Jess (31 August 2021). "Ireland's 'first green university president' takes UCC helm". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  9. ^ "Professor John O'Halloran". University College Cork. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
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Academic offices
Preceded by President of University College Cork
2021–
Succeeded by
incumbent