Kerstin Mey

Kerstin Mey was born in East Berlin, Germany in 1963.{{cite web | title=KERSTIN MEY, born 1963 | website=Company Director Check | date=1 March 2007 | url=http://www.flixens.com/director/kerstin-mey?year=1963 | access-date=9 July 2020}} She attended Humboldt University, where she studied Art and German (language and literature); she earned a PhD in Art Theory and Aesthetics from the same university and took up a lecturership and executive assistant role there in 1990.

Mey moved to the UK in 1992 and worked as DAAD Lektor for German language at Warwick University in 1992.{{Cite web |title=Prof. Dr. Kerstin Mey |url=https://www.daad.de/en/alumni/gallery/portrait/prof-dr-kerstin-mey/ |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=www.daad.de |language=en}} During her time at Warwick, she studied for a PG Dip in European Cultural Policy and Administration and was awarded a short-term fellowship at the Henry Moore Institute Leeds for a research project on contemporary sculpture.{{Cite web |title=Research fellows 1995 |url=https://henry-moore.org/discover-and-research/sculpture-research-programme/visiting-research-fellowships/research-fellows-1995/ |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=Henry Moore Foundation |language=en-GB}}

In 1996, she was appointed as Lecturer in Fine Art at Duncan of [https://www.dundee.ac.uk/djcad Jordanstone College of Art and Design], University of Dundee and promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2002.{{Cite web |title=Art in the Making: Aesthetics, Historicity and Practice by Mey, Kerstin (ed.) {{!}} Paperback {{!}} 2005 {{!}} Peter Lang {{!}} 9783906764931 {{!}} BIBLIO |url=https://www.biblio.com/book/art-making-aesthetics-historicity-practice-mey/d/1470957801?srsltid=AfmBOoo4OgtlqTINcr8OblbxiRPvzl_2zSB3KVnns6-lvm9Igw4Jq8zk |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=www.biblio.com}}

From 2004 to 2009, she led the research area ‘Art and its Location’ in Interface: Centre for Research in Art, Technologies and Design at the University of Ulster and served as the Centre’s Acting Director between 2008 and 2009.{{Cite book |url=https://pure.ulster.ac.uk/en/publications/interface-report-no2-0606-0409-3 |title=Interface Report No.2 - 06/06 - 04/09 |date=2009 |publisher=Arts Council of Northern Ireland |isbn=978-1-905902-03-3}} From 2005 to 2008, she also headed up the Research Institute in Art and Design for the University. She held a full professorship in Fine Art and was the artistic director of ISEA 2009: Engaged Creativity in Mobile Environments on the island of Ireland.{{Cite web |title=[ISEA2009] {{!}} ISEA Symposium Archives |url=https://www.isea-archives.org/symposia/isea2009/ |access-date=2025-02-10 |language=en}}

In 2009, she moved to the [https://www.uca.ac.uk/ University for the Creative Arts] in England heading up the organisations research and enterprise function as its Director. There she focused on building the university’s research infrastructure and culture, and advancing the practice-based PhD programme in partnership with University of Brighton.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-02 |title=Governing Authority Members Details {{!}} University of Limerick |url=https://www.ul.ie/corporatesecretary/governing-authority-members-details |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=www.ul.ie |language=en}}

In 2013, she became pro-vice-chancellor and executive dean of the Westminster School of Media, Arts and Design, the leading faculty within the University of Westminster, where she was also professor of Contemporary Art and Theory. As pro-vice chancellor she co-led an ambitious academic transformation programme with the embedding of the university-wide electives and graduate attributes in the undergraduate curricula across the institution.{{Cite web |last=Thomas-Alexander |first=Tiya |date=2023-09-01 |title=Talking leadership: Kerstin Mey on using arts to reimagine education |url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/talking-leadership/talking-leadership-kerstin-mey-using-arts-reimagine-education |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=Times Higher Education (THE) |language=en}}

In April 2018, she became the vice-president for Academic Affairs and Student Engagement for University of Limerick (UL) as well as the institution's Professor of Visual Culture.{{cite web | title=UL appoints first female president of Irish university | website=RTÉ Ireland's National Television and Radio Broadcaster | date=9 July 2020 | url=https://www.rte.ie/news/munster/2020/0709/1152330-first-woman-university-president/ | access-date=9 July 2020| last1=Halloran | first1=Cathy }}{{cite news | last=Donnelly | first=Katherine | title=University of Limerick appoints first ever female president of an Irish university | newspaper=The Irish Independent | date=9 July 2020 | url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/education/university-of-limerick-appoints-first-ever-female-president-of-an-irish-university-39354212.html | access-date=9 July 2020}}{{cite web | title=Professor Kerstin Mey; VPAASE On Transforming Education | website=UL | date=6 February 2020 | url=https://www.ul.ie/ullinks/section/feature/professor-kerstin-mey-vpaase-transforming-education | access-date=9 July 2020}}{{cite web | last=Mey | first=Kerstin | title=Brexit signals the end of a unified Europe, and HE has much to lose | website=Times Higher Education (THE) | date=28 June 2016 | url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/blog/brexit-signals-end-unified-europe-and-he-has-much-lose | access-date=9 July 2020}} She introduced and led an ambitious academic transformation programme and ensured the smooth transition to hybrid and online learning of the university during Covid19.https://www.ul.ie/node/11380

In July 2020, Mey was appointed interim president of University of Limerick, the first woman to head up an Irish university in the 428 years of history of the sector.{{cite web | title=Meet the President | website=University of Limerick | url=https://www.ul.ie/presidents-office/president-university-limerick | access-date=27 March 2024}}{{Cite web |title=First ever woman president of an Irish university appointed at University of Limerick |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/first-ever-woman-president-of-an-irish-university-appointed-at-university-of-limerick-1.4300301 |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=The Irish Times |language=en}} The university ran a global search for the presidency over the following months, and Mey was announced as the winning candidate, and formally appointed to the role at the meeting of its governing authority on 8 October 2021.{{Cite web |date=2021-10-08 |title=University of Limerick's Governing Authority approves appointment of new president {{!}} University of Limerick |url=https://www.ul.ie/news/university-of-limericks-governing-authority-approves-appointment-of-new-president |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=www.ul.ie |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=O'Sullivan |first=Lia |date=2021-10-09 |title=IUA Statement 08.10.21 - IUA warmly welcomes the appointment of Prof. Kerstin Mey as President of UL |url=https://www.iua.ie/press-releases/iua-statement-08-10-21-iua-warmly-welcomes-the-appointment-of-prof-kerstin-mey-as-president-of-ul/ |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=Irish Universities Association}}

During her presidency, Mey pursued an organisational transformation agenda {{Cite web |title=UL Links |url=https://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&pubid=5746b52e-02da-4f9f-9e29-24d34eb6dbc7 |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk |language=en-US}} and University of Limerick significantly improved its performance. It achieved Athena Swan Silver award as the first HEI in Ireland.{{Cite web |title=University of Limerick becomes first higher education institution in Ireland to win an Athena Swan Silver Award {{!}} Advance HE |url=https://advance-he.ac.uk/news-and-views/university-limerick-becomes-first-higher-education-institution-ireland-win-athena |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=advance-he.ac.uk}} Mey introduced innovative professional role profiles to the HE sector in Ireland{{Cite web |last=Boe |first=Mariangela |date=2025-01-31 |title=Sustainability through collaboration: UL, YERUN, and the SDGs |url=https://yerun.eu/2025/01/sustainability-through-collaboration-ul-yerun-and-the-sdgs/ |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=Yerun |language=en}} and facilitated the bottom-up development and implementation of a pioneering, systemic and mission-based Sustainability Framework to 2030.{{Cite web |title=Sustainability {{!}} University of Limerick |url=https://www.ul.ie/sustainability |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=www.ul.ie |language=en}} UL moved into the 500 globally leading universities{{Cite web |date=2025-01-23 |title=QS World University Rankings 2024 |url=https://www.topuniversities.com/world-university-rankings/2024?search=University%20of%20Limerick |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=Top Universities |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2023-09-25 |title=World University Rankings |url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2024/world-ranking#!/length/25/name/University%20of%20Limerick/sort_by/rank/sort_order/asc/cols/scores |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=Times Higher Education (THE) |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2023-06-14 |title=Young University Rankings |url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2023/young-university-rankings#!/length/25/name/University%20of%20Limerick/sort_by/rank/sort_order/asc/cols/scores |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=Times Higher Education (THE) |language=en}} and grew its international recognition for impact and sustainability.{{Cite web |date=2024-06-04 |title=Impact Ranking |url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/impactrankings#!/length/25/name/University%20of%20Limerick/sort_by/rank/sort_order/asc |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=Times Higher Education (THE) |language=en}} In 2021, she oversaw the development and subsequent implementation of the pioneering, industry sponsored Immersive Software Engineering BSc/MSc.{{Cite web |last=Harford |first=Sarah |date=2021-02-24 |title=UL teams up with tech leaders to shake up computer science education |url=https://www.siliconrepublic.com/innovation/university-limerick-immersive-software-engineering |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=Silicon Republic |language=en}}

To address mainly legacy issues, Mey attended Ireland's Public Accounts Committee in 2021,{{Cite web |last=Oireachtas |first=Houses of the |date=2021-06-17 |title=COMMITTEE OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS debate - Thursday, 17 Jun 2021 |url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/committee_of_public_accounts/2021-06-17/2/?highlight%5B0%5D=kerstin&highlight%5B1%5D=mey |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=www.oireachtas.ie |language=en-ie}} 2022{{Cite web |last=Oireachtas |first=Houses of the |date=2022-05-12 |title=COMMITTEE OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS debate - Thursday, 12 May 2022 |url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/committee_of_public_accounts/2022-05-12/3/?highlight%5B0%5D=kerstin&highlight%5B1%5D=mey |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=www.oireachtas.ie |language=en-ie}} and as well as 2023{{Cite web |last=Oireachtas |first=Houses of the |date=2023-05-17 |title=Committee of Public Accounts to examine 2020 Financial Statements with University of Limerick – 17 May 2023, 16:10 – Houses of the Oireachtas |url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/press-centre/press-releases/20230517-committee-of-public-accounts-to-examine-2020-financial-statements-with-university-of-limerick/ |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=www.oireachtas.ie |language=en-ie}} in what some commentators described as an "inept performance", with one question asked 23 times.{{cite news |last1=Brennan |first1=Cianan |title=Can the University of Limerick's president survive latest controversy? |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/commentanalysis/arid-41362414.html |access-date=29 March 2024 |work=Irish Examiner |date=28 March 2024 |language=en}} In March 2024, the trade union in the university voted "no confidence" in the president, and 10 of the 13 members of UL's executive committee other than Mey, including the deputy president, wrote that "We wish to advise you that we do not consider it is in the best interests of the University of Limerick for you to continue as president", and "We do not have confidence that you will approach this in an appropriate manner". This was following a "significant over payment" (around 5.2 million euro) by UL for 20 houses for students, an overspend which, combined with provisions for a previous over payment for a site in central Limerick under her predecessor, created temporary budgetary pressures for the university. The development also turned out to lack planning permission for use as student accommodation.{{cite news |last1=O'Regan |first1=Donal |last2=Rabbitts |first2=Nick |title=University president asked to consider position in hard-hitting letter by staff |url=https://www.limerickleader.ie/news/home/1458285/university-president-asked-to-consider-position-in-hard-hitting-letter-by-staff.html |access-date=24 March 2024 |publisher=Limerick Leader |date=24 March 2024}}{{Cite news |title=University of Limerick overpaid €5.2m on student housing project, says president |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/education/2024/03/25/university-of-limerick-president-faces-crunch-meeting-on-52m-housing-overspend/ |access-date=2024-03-26 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en|quote="new valuations were carried out as part of a review of the deal that was commissioned because of concern about the transaction within the governing authority and UL's executive management. “The university will have to absorb the resulting draft impairment, a sum in the region of €5.2 million, in our financial accounts,” Prof Mey said. That loss of value – in addition to the Dunnes site impairment – will lead to a deficit in the 2022-2023 financial year, contrary to a forecast surplus."}}

Mey notified the Public Accounts Committee on 23 March 2024 that she would not be able to make a scheduled appearance on 11 April 2024 but that she will honour the invitation at a later point during that term.{{Cite web |last=Oireachtas |first=Houses of the |date=2018-02-02 |title=Publications by the Houses of the Oireachtas – Houses of the Oireachtas |url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/publications/?q=kerstin%20april%202024&date=&term=/ie/oireachtas/house/dail/33&fromDate=10/02/2025&toDate=10/02/2025&committee%5B%5D=/en/committees/33/committee-of-public-accounts/&topic%5B%5D=correspondence&topic%5B%5D=minutesAgendas&topic%5B%5D=opening-statements-submissions |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=www.oireachtas.ie |language=en-ie}} On 14 June 2024, UL chancellor Brigid Laffan announced Mey would resign from her role as president on 1 September 2024, continuing at the university as a full professor of Visual Culture.{{Cite web |title=University of Limerick president Kerstin Mey to resign |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/education/2024/06/14/university-of-limerick-president-kerstin-may-to-resign/ |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=The Irish Times |language=en}}

Mey has held a number of  leadership and governance positions in international higher education. Amongst others, she was Director of CREST{{Cite web |last=Persad |first=Rachel |date=2013-05-20 |title=New CREST Director announced - GuildHE Research |url=https://research.guildhe.ac.uk/2013/05/20/new-crest-director-announced-may-2013/ |access-date=2025-02-10 |language=en-GB}} now GuildHE Research, the research consortium of the UK higher education interest group for small and specialised universities. She served on the Austrian Science Board, a 12 member strong advisory for the Federal Minister with responsibilities for higher education and research appointed by the Austrian Parliament from 2012–2018. Mey was an Executive member and Vice Chair of [https://www.chead.ac.uk/ CHEAD]{{Cite web |title=Brexit response {{!}} Council for Higher Education in Art & Design |url=https://www.chead.ac.uk/kerstin-mey-on-brexit/ |access-date=2025-02-10 |language=en-GB}} Council for Higher Education in Art and Design, UK. Between 2019 and 2024 she served on the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Ireland,{{Cite news |last=Lowry |first=Colin |date=2019-10-01 |title=New National Forum Board Announced |url=https://www.teachingandlearning.ie/2019/10/01/new-national-forum-board-announced/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240622060304/https://www.teachingandlearning.ie/2019/10/01/new-national-forum-board-announced/ |archive-date=22 June 2024 |access-date=2025-02-10 |work=National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education |language=en-US |url-status=live }} and she chaired the Council of the Irish Universities Association in 2023.{{Cite web |last=O'Sullivan |first=Lia |date=2023-03-01 |title=IUA Seminar/Webinar - Why Autonomy Matters for University Success - March 2nd 8.30am |url=https://www.iua.ie/events/iua-seminar-webinar-why-autonomy-matters-for-university-success-march-2nd-8-30am/ |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=Irish Universities Association}}{{Cite web |date=2007-11-07 |title=New Era for Ormeau Baths Gallery |url=http://www.artscouncil-ni.org/news/2007/new18042007.htm |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=artscouncil-ni.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071107024919/http://www.artscouncil-ni.org/news/2007/new18042007.htm |archive-date=2007-11-07}}

She also held board and advisory positions in cultural organisations. Between 2008-9 she steered the Ormeau Baths Galleries, the then premier venue for contemporary art in Belfast, Northern Ireland, through a complex transition phase as Chair and acting CEO.  Amongst others, she was on the board of PAL, Performing Arts Labs, UK, and served on the ISEA International Advisory Committee.

She also served as a member of the board of directors of the Irish Chamber Orchestra and is a member of the board of Eva International Biennial{{Cite web |title=Governance |url=https://www.eva.ie/about-eva/governance/ |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=EVA International |language=en-GB}} and the Hunt Museum.

Mey’s research is concerned with 20th century contemporary art,{{Cite book |url=https://doi.org/10.20933/100001303 |title=Fine Art Dissertations 2024: Duncan of Jordanstone School of Art and Design |date=2024 |publisher=University of Dundee |doi=10.20933/100001303 |editor-last=Gorrill |editor-first=Helen |editor-last2=Summerton |editor-first2=Edward |editor-last3=Spence |editor-first3=Pernille}}{{Cite book |url=https://www.kennys.ie/art-architecture/art-and-obscenity |title=Art and Obscenity |isbn=978-1-84511-235-6 |language=en-gb}}{{Cite book |last=Schmeink |first=Lars |date=2017-09-21 |chapter=Conclusion |title=Biopunk Dystopias Genetic Engineering, Society and Science Fiction |volume=1 |publisher=Liverpool University Press |doi=10.5949/liverpool/9781781383766.003.0008 |doi-access=free}}{{Cite book |title=Mariele Neudecker - SEDIMENT |date=2021 |publisher=Anomie |isbn=978-1-910221-32-7 |editor-last=Neudecker |editor-first=Mariele |location=Wakefield |editor-last2=Crawle |editor-first2=Greer |editor-last3=Limerick City Gallery of Art}}{{Cite book |url=https://doi.org/10.5040/9781501358685 |title=In and Out of View |date=2022 |publisher=Bloomsbury Visual Arts |doi=10.5040/9781501358685 |isbn=978-1-5013-5871-5 |editor-last=Paquette |editor-first=Catha |editor-last2=Kleinfelder |editor-first2=Karen |editor-last3=Miles |editor-first3=Christopher}} aesthetics {{Cite book |last=Mey |first=Kerstin |url=https://www.peterlang.com/document/1098645 |title=Art in the Making |date=2021-07-27 |publisher=Peter Lang |isbn=978-3-906764-93-1 |language=en}} and public pedagogies.{{Cite journal |last=Mey |first=Kerstin |date=January 2005 |title=On-Site/In-Sight |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1386/jvap.4.2and3.67/1 |journal=Journal of Visual Art Practice |language=en |volume=4 |issue=2–3 |pages=67–81 |doi=10.1386/jvap.4.2and3.67/1 |issn=1470-2029|url-access=subscription }} It includes inquiries on the relationship between art and identity formation {{Cite journal |date=December 2004 |title=Hybrid Identities in Digital Media' Digital bodies, virtual characters, man-machine hybrids, simulated 'humans', androids, and cyborgs Convergence, vol. 11, no. 4, Winter 2005, Guest-edited by Kerstin Mey and Yvonne Spielmann |url=https://doi.org/10.1177/135485650401000402 |journal=Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies |volume=10 |issue=4 |pages=8 |doi=10.1177/135485650401000402 |issn=1354-8565|url-access=subscription }}{{Cite book |url=https://doi.org/10.1515/9783839405567 |title=Kultureller Umbau |date=2007-12-31 |publisher=transcript Verlag |doi=10.1515/9783839405567 |isbn=978-3-89942-556-7 |editor-last=Kröncke |editor-first=Meike |editor-last2=Mey |editor-first2=Kerstin |editor-last3=Spielmann |editor-first3=Yvonne}} artistic research,{{Cite web |title=RIXC, The Center for New Media Culture |url=https://rixc.org/en/acousticspace/all/art-as-research/ |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=rixc.org |language=en}} and the relationship between art, documentation and archives. Her current focus is directed at the nexus between contemporary creative practices and the development of narrative frameworks in relation to value hierarchies, models of practice and social transformation processes towards sustainability and regeneration.

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