Listowel man takes charge at IT Tralee
THE Institute of Technology in Tralee has appointed a new Interim President following the retirement of Dr Oliver Murphy, who announced he was stepping down from the role in March.
This week Dr Brendan O’Donnell was officially named as the Interim President having taken up the position at the start of the month.
The Chairperson of ITT’s Governing Body, Lionel Alexander, extended his congratulations to Dr O’Donnell on his appointment.
“The Institute is at an exciting juncture with a decision on the application to become Munster Technological University due before the end of the week. I look forward to working closely with Brendan, the executive team, and the Governing Body and would like to extend my congratulations as he takes on this leadership role during a time of momentous change for our organisation,” said Mr
Alexander.
Dr O’Donnell said he was honoured to be appointed and looks forward to working with the Governing Body, staff and students, and all stakeholders to ensure that the Institute continues to grow and develop and is a key enabler of economic, social and cultural development in Kerry and wider region.
“My key priority is the establishment of the Munster Technological University in collaboration with our colleagues in CIT. A University Campus in Tralee adjacent to the Kerry Technology Park will significantly contribute to the overall economic development of not only Kerry but the wider region,” said Dr O’Donnell.
Dr O’Donnell is a native of Listowel. Following the completion of an engineering degree in UCD, he was employed as a research fellow with An Foras Taluntais (the organisation succeeded by Teagasc) where he completed a PhD in the field of renewable energy.
He joined the engineering department of what was then Tralee RTC as a lecturer in January 1991.
In 2012 he was appointed Head of Department for Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths, a position he held until 2016, when he was promoted to the position of Vice President for Academic Affairs and Registrar.