Gerry McKenna

Patrick Gerald McKenna, DL, FIBMS, FRSB, MRIA (born 10 December 1953), known informally and widely as Gerry McKenna, is a Chartered Biologist (CBiol, 1982) and Chartered Scientist (CSci, 2006) from Northern Ireland.

Professor McKenna is most well known for his long affiliation with the University of Ulster in Coleraine, where he was honoured with the Freedom of the Borough of Coleraine[1][2] and as Coleraine Business Person of the Year, as well as being appointed Deputy Lieutenant for County Londonderry.[3]

University of Ulster leadership

During McKenna's successive tenures as founding Director of the Biomedical Sciences Research Centre, Head of Biological & Biomedical Sciences, Dean of Science, Pro Vice Chancellor (Research), and finally Vice Chancellor/President of the University of Ulster, the University became the foremost provider of healthcare programs (both undergraduate and postgraduate), and was top-ranked for research (5*) in Biomedical Sciences and Celtic Studies in the UK, and the largest university on the island of Ireland.[4][5][6] The University rose to 27th in Quality Research Funding (research power) in the UK and was shortlisted for Sunday Times University of the Year.[7]

McKenna has strongly promoted social inclusion,[8] most notably via the acclaimed 'Step Up' program for school pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds. He also established a range of e-learning programs via Campus One.[9][10][11]

Founder or co-founder

• Heads of University Centres of Biomedical Sciences (HUCBMS)[12]
• Universities Ireland
• US-Ireland R&D Partnership.[13]
• Irish Universities Nutrition Alliance (IUNA)[14]
• Catalyst Inc (formerly Northern Ireland Science Park)
• Benburb Priory Library & Museum[15]
• Benburb Priory Ltd

Affiliations and honours

• Chair, Health Technology and Informatics Advisory Committee; Biomedical Sciences Advisor; Hong Kong Polytechnic University[16]
• Chair, Management Board of the Benburb Servite Priory Library and Museum[16][15]
• Chair, Benburb Priory Ltd
• Member, Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education Benchmarking Working Groups for Biosciences and Biomedical Sciences[16][17]
• Member, International Advisory Board, University of Kufa[16][18]
• Chair, Universities Ireland
• Keys to the City of Portland, Maine[16]
• Honoree, Harvard Friends of Celtic Studies[19] and the Flax Trust America, New York City[20][16]
• Honorary Doctorates, National University of Ireland (NUI) and Queen's University Belfast[21]
• Chair, Northern Ireland Foresight, Life and Health Technologies Panel[7]
• Chair, Independent Advisory Group, Doctoral Training Alliance[22]
• Co-Chair, Royal Irish Academy Brexit Taskforce[23]
• Chair, Royal Irish Academy, North-South Standing Committee
• Chair, Royal Irish Academy, Higher Education Futures Taskforce[24][25]
• Senior Vice President, Vice President, Member, Member of Council, Royal Irish Academy[26][27]
• President, President Emeritus, Hon Executive Secretary, Heads of University Centres of Biomedical Sciences (HUCBMS)[28]

External links

Website: http://www.gerrymckenna.co.uk/

References

1. "Meeting of Coleraine Borough Council Agenda" (PDF). Wsuk4.prossl.com. 27 June 2000. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
2. https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/sheepish-traditions/157298.article
3. http://lord-lieutenantoflondonderry.com/
4. "Professor P. G. (Gerry) McKenna". gerrymckenna.co.uk.
5. "27th International Nursing and Midwifery Research Conference" (PDF). Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery. 15 November 2010. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
6. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/335392091_UU_BMS_25-40_Years_August_2019
7. "Professor P. G. (Gerry) McKenna". Gerrymckenna.co.uk. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
8. http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/issues/politics/docs/dott/ba190204.htm
9. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/2205895.stm
10. "University of Ulster - Outreach programme hailed". 28 August 2008.
11. University, Ulster (28 April 2017). "eLearning at Ulster University".
12. "Heads of University Centres of Biomedical Sciences". Hucbms.org. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
13. "IUNA". IUNA. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
14. "Irish Universities Nutrition Alliance". Ghdx.healthdata.org. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
15. "Servite Priory Library Project". Servite Priory Library Project. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
16. "Professor P.G. (Gerry) McKenna". Gerrymckenna.co.uk. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
17. (QAA), The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education. "The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA)". www.qaa.ac.uk.
18. "Professor P G (Gerry) McKenna - University of Kufa". Uokufa.edu.iq. 23 June 2016.
19. "A new year, a new ambassador, a Cruachan eye, an Ulster hero, and more" (PDF). Fhcs.fas.harvard.edu. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
20. "Flax Trust – Honourees". Flaxtrust.com. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
21. "Professor P. G. (Gerry) McKenna". Gerrymckenna.co.uk. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
22. "DTA Applied Biosciences for Health - UA Doctoral Training Alliance". unialliance.ac.uk.
23. "RIA Brexit Taskforce". Ria.ie. 11 December 2015. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
24. https://www.ria.ie/ga/node/99000
25. https://www.ria.ie/policy-international/working-groups/higher-education-futures
26. "Professor P. G. (Gerry) McKenna". Gerrymckenna.co.uk. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
27. "Royal Irish Academy". Ria.ie. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
28. "About HUCBMS - Heads of University Centres of Biomedical Sciences". Hucbms.org. Retrieved 15 August 2017.