Gerry McKenna

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.{{cite web | url=https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/c0ba9633-7db7-4f79-a5a1-461f7915bcf1/research-assessment-exercise-2001 | title=Research Assessment Exercise 2001 | date=30 August 2013 }} It also became the largest university on the island of Ireland.{{cite web|url=http://www.gerrymckenna.co.uk/Biography|title=Professor P. G. (Gerry) McKenna|website=gerrymckenna.co.uk}}

The university rose to 27th in Quality Research Funding (research power) in the UK and was shortlisted for Sunday Times University of the Year.{{cite web|url=http://www.gerrymckenna.co.uk|title=Professor P. G. (Gerry) McKenna|website=Gerrymckenna.co.uk|accessdate=2017-08-21}}

McKenna has strongly promoted social inclusion,{{Cite web|url=https://cain.ulster.ac.uk/issues/politics/docs/dott/ba190204.htm|title=CAIN: Issues: Politics: Speech by Bertie Ahern, then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), at the University of Ulster, Coleraine, on 'Partnership as the only way forward', 19 February 2004|website=cain.ulster.ac.uk}} 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.{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/2205895.stm|title=University scheme 'total success'|date=20 August 2002|via=news.bbc.co.uk}}{{cite web|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/university-of-ulster-outreach-programme-hailed/403310.article|title=University of Ulster - Outreach programme hailed|date=28 August 2008|publisher=}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ulster.ac.uk/ulster-life/study-at-ulster/elearning|title=eLearning at Ulster University|first=Ulster|last=University|date=28 April 2017|publisher=}}

McKenna has led a substantial restructuring of the governance and management of Benburb Servite Priory including the establishment of its Library and Museum, and the development of the Priory as a major spiritual, cultural and community centre.{{Cite web | title=Retreat, Conference Centre and Nature Park - Benburb Priory | url=https://benburbpriory.com/ | access-date=2025-07-02 | website=benburbpriory.com}}

McKenna has played a leading role, as Vice President and later Senior Vice President, in the Royal Irish Academy, Ireland’s leading academic body. He was elected to the Council of the Academy, in 2017, also becoming an Academy Vice President. He chaired the Academy’s North-South Committee and was a co-founder and co-chair of the Celtic Academies Alliance involving the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the Learned Society of Wales. He chaired a major all-island review during 2019-2021 on Higher Education Futures resulting in reports on higher education values, the future landscape of HE, equality diversity and inclusion in HE, the role of HE in regions and place, and re-imagining the future of research across the island of Ireland.{{cite web | url=https://www.ria.ie/policy-and-international-relations/higher-education-and-research-policy/higher-education-futures#:~:text=Higher%20Education%20Futures%20Series,-The%20Royal%20Irish&text=The%20series%20of%20discussion%20papers,to%20equality%2C%20diversity%20and%20inclusion | title=Higher Education Futures | Royal Irish Academy | date=14 July 2021 }} McKenna was also principal author in 2024 of a major RIA report 'Finding Common Ground: Building Community' focussed on the North-West of the island of Ireland. The report recommended inter alia independent oversight of higher education in Northern Ireland and outlined the potential for a North-West cross border university.{{Cite web| title=Finding common ground, building community: strengthening and stimulating tertiary regional collaboration in the north-west of the island of Ireland | url=https://www.ria.ie/assets/uploads/2024/05/policy-report-fnding-common-ground.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240531034531/https://www.ria.ie/assets/uploads/2024/05/policy-report-fnding-common-ground.pdf | archive-date=2024-05-31}}

• Heads of University Centres of Biomedical Sciences (HUCBMS){{cite web|url=http://www.hucbms.org/go/about|title=Heads of University Centres of Biomedical Sciences|website=Hucbms.org|accessdate=6 June 2017}}
• Universities Ireland
• US-Ireland R&D Partnership.{{cite web|url=http://www.iuna.net|title=IUNA|publisher=IUNA|accessdate=7 June 2017}}
• Irish Universities Nutrition Alliance (IUNA){{cite web|url=http://ghdx.healthdata.org/organizations/irish-universities-nutrition-alliance-iuna|title=Irish Universities Nutrition Alliance|website=Ghdx.healthdata.org|accessdate=7 June 2017}}
• Catalyst Inc (formerly Northern Ireland Science Park)
• Benburb Priory Library & Museum{{cite web|url=https://www.servitelibrary.org/|title=Servite Priory Library Project|website=Servite Priory Library Project|accessdate=2017-08-21|archive-date=5 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170805221921/https://www.servitelibrary.org/|url-status=dead}}
• Benburb Priory Ltd
• Order of Mary Servite Trust
• Celtic Academies Alliance{{Cite web|url=https://www.ria.ie/news/policy-and-international-relations-international-activities/launch-celtic-academies-alliance|title=Launch of the Celtic Academies Alliance|date=25 March 2021|website=Royal Irish Academy}}

• Chair, Health Technology and Informatics Advisory Committee; Biomedical Sciences Advisor; Hong Kong Polytechnic University{{cite web|url=http://www.gerrymckenna.co.uk|title=Professor P.G. (Gerry) McKenna|website=Gerrymckenna.co.uk|accessdate=6 June 2017}}
• 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{{cite web|url=http://www.qaa.ac.uk/assuring-standards-and-quality/the-quality-code/subject-benchmark-statements/honours-degree-subjects|title=The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA)|first=The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education|last=(QAA)|website=www.qaa.ac.uk|access-date=16 July 2017|archive-date=10 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170710070251/http://www.qaa.ac.uk/assuring-standards-and-quality/the-quality-code/subject-benchmark-statements/honours-degree-subjects|url-status=dead}}
• Member, Advisory Committee, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University
• Member, International Advisory Board, University of Kufa{{cite web|url=http://www.uokufa.edu.iq/professor-p-g-gerry-mckenna|title=Professor P G (Gerry) McKenna - University of Kufa|date=23 June 2016|website=Uokufa.edu.iq|access-date=16 July 2017|archive-date=6 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806223053/http://www.uokufa.edu.iq/professor-p-g-gerry-mckenna/|url-status=dead}}
• Chair, Universities Ireland
• Keys to the City of Portland, Maine
• Honoree, Harvard Friends of Celtic Studies{{cite web|url=http://fhcs.fas.harvard.edu/friendspix/spring03.pdf|title=A new year, a new ambassador, a Cruachan eye, an Ulster hero, and more|website=Fhcs.fas.harvard.edu|accessdate=2017-08-21}} and the Flax Trust America, New York City{{cite web|url=http://flaxtrust.com/honourees/|title=Flax Trust – Honourees|website=Flaxtrust.com|accessdate=21 August 2017}}
• Honorary Doctorates, National University of Ireland (NUI) and Queen's University Belfast{{cite web|url=http://www.gerrymckenna.co.uk/Awards|title=Professor P. G. (Gerry) McKenna|website=Gerrymckenna.co.uk|accessdate=21 August 2017}}
• Eponymous Gerry McKenna Award for Excellence in Medical Science, Western Health and Social Services Trust{{cite web | url=https://westerntrust.hscni.net/celebrating-our-successes-western-trust-recognition-awards-event/ | title=Celebrating Our Successes – Western Trust Recognition Awards Event | Western Health & Social Care Trust }}
• Chair, Northern Ireland Foresight, Life and Health Technologies Panel
• Chair, Independent Advisory Group, Doctoral Training Alliance{{cite web|url=http://unialliance.ac.uk/dta/programmes/dta-applied-biosciences-for-health/|title=DTA Applied Biosciences for Health - UA Doctoral Training Alliance|website=unialliance.ac.uk}}
• Co-chair, Royal Irish Academy Brexit Taskforce{{cite web|url=https://www.ria.ie/programmes/policy-and-international-relations/ria-brexit-taskforce|title=RIA Brexit Taskforce|date=11 December 2015|website=Ria.ie|accessdate=21 August 2017}}
• Chair, Royal Irish Academy, North-South Standing Committee
• Chair, Royal Irish Academy, Higher Education Futures Taskforce{{Cite web|url=https://www.ria.ie/ga/node/99000|title=Higher Education Futures Group Established by the Royal Irish Academy|date=13 August 2020|website=Royal Irish Academy}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.ria.ie/policy-international/working-groups/higher-education-futures|title=Higher Education Futures|date=24 August 2020|website=Royal Irish Academy}}
• Senior Vice President, Vice President, Member, Member of Council, Royal Irish Academy{{cite web|url=http://www.gerrymckenna.co.uk|title=Professor P. G. (Gerry) McKenna |website=Gerrymckenna.co.uk|accessdate=26 June 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ria.ie|title=Royal Irish Academy|website=Ria.ie|accessdate=15 August 2017}}
• President, President Emeritus, Hon Executive Secretary, Heads of University Centres of Biomedical Sciences (HUCBMS){{cite web|url=http://www.hucbms.org/go/about|title=About HUCBMS - Heads of University Centres of Biomedical Sciences|website=Hucbms.org|accessdate=15 August 2017}}
• Vice Lord Lieutenant for County Londonderry{{Cite web|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/3916950|title = Lord Lieutenants | the Gazette}}
• Chair, Coleraine Future Town Fund Board {{Cite web | title=Former vice chancellor to oversee Coleraine £20m windfall spend - Alpha Newspaper Group | url=https://www.colerainechronicle.co.uk/news/2025/01/03/news/former-vice-chancellor-to-oversee-coleraine-20m-windfall-spend-55231/ | access-date=2025-07-02 | website=www.colerainechronicle.co.uk}}
• Member, Hong Kong Research Grants Council; Science, Medicine, Engineering, and Technology Selection Panel{{Cite web | title=RGC Homepage | url=https://www.ugc.edu.hk/eng/rgc/ | access-date=2025-07-02 | website=www.ugc.edu.hk}}

Website: [http://www.gerrymckenna.co.uk/ Professor P. G. (Gerry) McKenna - Home]

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{{succession box|title=Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ulster|before= Trevor Smith, Lord Smith of Clifton |after=Richard Barnett |years=1999–2006}}

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• [https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c0/Professor_Gerry_McKenna_MRIA.jpg ]

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Category:1953 births

Category:Date of birth missing (living people)

Category:21st-century biologists from Northern Ireland

Category:Vice-chancellors of Ulster University

Category:Scientists from County Londonderry

Category:Deputy lieutenants of Londonderry

Category:Members of the Royal Irish Academy

Category:Fellows of the Royal Society of Biology

Category:Living people

Category:20th-century educators from Northern Ireland

Category:21st-century educators from Northern Ireland

Category:People educated at St Patrick's Academy, Dungannon

Category:Scholars and academics from County Londonderry