Gerry McKenna facts for kids
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 and as Coleraine Business Person of the Year, as well as being appointed Deputy Lieutenant and later Vice Lord Lieutenant for County Londonderry.
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, one of only 20 universities to have two 5* ratings. It also became the largest university on the island of Ireland. The university rose to 27th in Quality Research Funding (research power) in the UK and was shortlisted for Sunday Times University of the Year.
McKenna has strongly promoted social inclusion, 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.
Founder or co-founder
- Heads of University Centres of Biomedical Sciences (HUCBMS)
- Universities Ireland
- US-Ireland R&D Partnership.
- Irish Universities Nutrition Alliance (IUNA)
- Catalyst Inc (formerly Northern Ireland Science Park)
- Benburb Priory Library & Museum
- Benburb Priory Ltd
- Order of Mary Servite Trust
- Celtic Academies Alliance
Affiliations and honours
- Chair, Health Technology and Informatics Advisory Committee; Biomedical Sciences Advisor; Hong Kong Polytechnic University
- Chair, Management Board of the Benburb Servite Priory Library and Museum
- Chair, Benburb Priory Ltd
- Chair, Board of Order of Mary Servite Trust and Chair of Finance Committee
- Member, Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education Benchmarking Working Groups for Biosciences and Biomedical Sciences
- Member, Advisory Committee, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University
- Member, International Advisory Board, University of Kufa
- Chair, Universities Ireland
- Keys to the City of Portland, Maine
- Honoree, Harvard Friends of Celtic Studies and the Flax Trust America, New York City
- Honorary Doctorates, National University of Ireland (NUI) and Queen's University Belfast
- Chair, Northern Ireland Foresight, Life and Health Technologies Panel
- Chair, Independent Advisory Group, Doctoral Training Alliance
- Co-chair, Royal Irish Academy Brexit Taskforce
- Chair, Royal Irish Academy, North-South Standing Committee
- Chair, Royal Irish Academy, Higher Education Futures Taskforce
- Senior Vice President, Vice President, Member, Member of Council, Royal Irish Academy
- President, President Emeritus, Hon Executive Secretary, Heads of University Centres of Biomedical Sciences (HUCBMS)
- Vice Lord Lieutenant for County Londonderry
