Dean’s Inclusion Award Winners 2023

On October 16th 2024, Head of School Rory Breathnach was delighted to present the latest Dean’s Inclusion Award to staff who volunteered at the UCD Festival in June 2023. Following the festival, UCD’s EDI unit and Neurodiversity Working Group commended the volunteers from SVM on hosting events that were welcoming and inclusive to neurodivergent attendees, especially children.

In all there were 23 staff volunteers from across the School and Hospital (including Estela's husband Dario), who hosted the following stands and talks:

 ‘Vet for a Day’

‘Skulls, Specimens, Slides - Exploring Veterinary Science’

‘Blood Donor Clinic’

‘Teddy Bear Clinic’ (One-Health with the Nursing Midwifery School)

The following staff members are to be awarded at a ceremony in the newly established SVM Staff Common Room:

Mark McCorry

Tracey Murphy

Avril McGinn

Renagh Kelly

Catherine McCarney

Marc Farrelly

Bridget Hogg

Antonella Puggioni

Alison Reynolds

Amanda Lawlor

Soudeh Ziapour Razlighi

Estela Bini

Gina Duggan

Monica Augusto

Michael Byrne

Robin Farrell

Pamela Gillick

Sandra Nicholson

Helen Graham

Susan Gaines

Well done and well deserved everyone!

Dean’s Inclusion Award Winner 2022

Comhghairdeas le/Congratulations to Lorna Murphy, a stage IV Veterinary Medicine student, who was has been awarded the Dean’s Inclusion Award 2022. Lorna was presented the award on February 15th 2023 by the Dean and Head of School, Prof Michael Doherty and Prof Stephen Gordon, Eimear Burkley from the Vets EDI/Athena SWAN committee.

Lorna has demonstrated passion and drive for EDI in our School and the wider Vet Sciences Community as 2021/22 VetSoc Welfare Officer, representing UCD at the Vet Schools Council and pursuing initiatives like student food banks. The work that Lorna and other students do to make our community more inclusive cannot be underestimated. Well done Lorna!!

Dean’s Inclusion Award Winner 2021

The Dean’s Inclusion Award for 2021 was presented to Dr Niamh Nestor, Vet Student Advisor, on 21 February 2022.

Dean and Head of School, Professor Michael Doherty, presented the award to Niamh at an event in the UCD University Club attended by staff, students and Niamh's colleagues and friends from across UCD.

Professor Steve Gordon (co-Chair of the School's EDI Athena SWAN Committee), Dr Niamh Nestor (Vet Student Advisor & Dean's Inclusion Award recipient), Professor Michael Doherty (Dean & Head of School) and Dr Cliona Skelly (co-Chair of the School's EDI Athena SWAN Committee)

Staff and students from the UCD School of Veterinary Medicine with Dr Niamh Nestor, Vet Student Advisor & Dean's Inclusion Award recipient

Excerpt from Niamh's Acceptance Speech:

"We can’t talk about equality and inclusion without talking about intersectionality – the notion that all oppression is linked. In this, we have to interrogate our own privilege and ensure a diversity of voices in our leadership and decision-making structures. We are all allies in this fight, but in that fight we have to remember that inequality for one is ultimately inequality for all. In particular we remember our brothers and sisters the world over who do not enjoy the privileges we do.

I want to say a special word to the students who are here today. I’m so proud of your generation – your bravery, self-awareness and the way you stand up for what is right and just. Building on the work of those who have gone before us, my generation is hopefully continuing to pave the way for you and for future generations.

Finally, I would like to dedicate this award to my beautiful Nanny who bore the inequalities meted out to her sex with grace, compassion, and reluctant acceptance and no small amount of righteous anger and frustration. I took inspiration from her as a young girl – she was the first feminist I knew – and I truly wish she could have experienced a different kind of world where her talents, her smarts and her power could have been recognised in a way that fulfilled her."

Dean’s Inclusion Award Winners 2020

Two Dean’s Inclusion Awards were presented in 2020 to staff member, Patrick O’Callaghan and final year Veterinary Medicine student, Oonagh Hynes. The presentation was made virtually, due to COVID-19 restrictions, by Dean and Head of School, Professor Michael Doherty.

Dean’s Inclusion Award Winner 2019 

The inaugural Dean’s Inclusion Award was presented to final year Veterinary Medicine student, Shauna Gavin, in 2019.

Dean and Head of School, Professor Michael Doherty, presented the award to Shauna at an event in the Veterinary Sciences Centre attended by staff, students and Shauna’s family and friends.