Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) at the Faculty of Education and Health Sciences
Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) issues are at the heart of our faculty's identity and central to our research and academic missions. We are fully committed to establishing and maintaining an ethos of dignity and respect for all within a day-to-day culture of promoting these principles across all activities.
Central to our efforts to promote equality, diversity and inclusion across the 6 Departments and Schools in the Faculty is working with the Athena Swan Charter. This is an international award for Higher Education Institutions that have proven their ongoing commitment to advancing these principles. The Faculty of Education and Health Sciences currently holds an Athena Swan Silver Award (2026-2031).
The EDI team in the Faculty comprises of the Assistant Dean of EDI, the EDI Development Officer, the Faculty EDI Committee and the six School/ Department EDI Committees.
EDI Committee
The EHS Faculty Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Committee meets a minimum of twice every semester and is chaired by the Assistant Dean of EDI in the Faculty. It is represented on the UL Athena Swan Steering Committee as well as the UL Human Rights and EDI Committee.
Membership of the committee is drawn from academic, professional and support staff across the six Departments and Schools. Members are also drawn from student representative bodies and other strategic positions co-opted onto the Committee to ensure a wide a knowledge base as possible. View the list of current membership.
Faculty EDI Committee Members
| Membership Role | Member |
| Dean | Professor Deirdre McGrath |
| Chair - Assistant Dean of EDI | Dr Petra Elftorp |
| School of Allied Health - EDI Committee Chair | Dr Áine Kearns |
| Physical Education & Sport Sciences - EDI Committee Chair | Dr Ian Sherwin |
| School of Education - EDI Committee Chair | Dr Patrick Johnson |
| School of Medicine - EDI Committee Chair | Dr Lucie Pollard |
| Dept. of Psychology - EDI Committee Chair | Dr Siobhán Griffin |
| School of Nursing & Midwifery - EDI Committee Chair | Dr Jill Murphy |
| School of Nursing & Midwifery - EDI Committee Chair | Dr Steven Byrne |
| Faculty Manager | Mary Heuston |
| Faculty HR Business Partner | Gervaise Monks |
| EHS Research Funding Officer | Dr Orla Power Grant |
| PMSS Representative | Alison Claffey |
| PMSS Representative | Riadh Hogan |
| Technical Staff Representative | Dr Sandra O’Brien |
| HREDI Office | Maureen Keogh |
| Data Analyst, HREDI Office | Michael O'Brien |
| EDI Development Officer (Committee Secretary) | Hilary Curley |
| Student Life (ULSL) President or nominee | Alternates |
