Saint Patrick’s Pontifical University, Maynooth, the two centuries old third level institution, is welcoming four new key academic appointments across its Theology and Philosophy Faculties.
As well as internal promotion, the University will also welcome new appointees from abroad, further enhancing its academic offering. One includes a Professor in Moral Theology, who before entering academic life, worked in law enforcement in the US.
Welcoming the senior academic appointments, Father Michael Mullaney, President of the College, said, ‘’I am delighted that academics of such stature and experience are joining us here at Saint Patrick’s. They bring a wealth of international knowledge and experience in their new roles. The roles will allow us to build even stronger faculties of Theology and Philosophy into the future and solidify our position as a destination of choice for study and research among both international and domestic Theological and Philosophical communities.”
These appointments come as Saint Patrick’s Pontifical University is also set to welcome 45% more students to the Bachelor of Arts and Theology (BATh) programme. Incoming students are from a wide range of areas at home and abroad including Waterford, Mayo, Meath, Westmeath, Cavan, Dublin, Kildare and Amsterdam.
Commenting on the increase in first years to the BATh course, Father Mullaney added, “The increase in intake on our BATh course is certainly down to the University’s engagement with second level schools and opening up conversations about what theology is in today’s world, and assisted with an increase in our marketing outputs in the last year. Theology allows people a forum to answer the big questions of life, something which students value on the back of the seismic societal changes we are still experiencing post-pandemic. A combined degree such as the BATh allows for the development of critical thinking, communication and discussion of the humanities and much more.”
The new academic appointees include:
- New Professor of Moral Theology Tobias Winright
- New Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy Dr Simon Nolan, O.Carm
- New Lecturer of Systematic Theology Joshua Furnal
- New Programme Co-Ordinator for the Diploma in Youth Ministry & Spirituality Anne-Marie Dolan
ENDS
