College of Medicine chief Murphy appointed president of UCC

PROFESSOR Michael Murphy will become president of University College Cork on February 1 next, following his appointment by the governing body yesterday.

The news came more than a week later than expected and ends months of speculation during which the head of UCC’s College of Medicine and Health has remained at the top of the favourite’s list for the €190,000 a year post.

He succeeds controversial president Prof Gerry Wrixon who announced his resignation plans last May, a year after getting Government approval to complete his 10-year term despite passing public service retirement age.

Prof Murphy may be seen as a potential healer of wounds following the divisions caused by Prof Wrixon’s tenure, particularly in the last three years.

The president-elect was unavailable to be interviewed yesterday but in a statement issued by UCC governing body chairman Prof Enda McDonagh, he set out his intentions and said he looks forward to the task of leading the college.

“He aims to build on UCC’s tremendous success in recent years, to continue to progress UCC’s teaching and research achievements, and to lead UCC in its continuing development,” the statement said.

The 53-year-old was appointed to his current position last May, having been dean of medicine since 2000. A Cork native, he was taught at St Finbarr’s College, Farranferris, and is a graduate of UCC’s medical school.

He previously held senior positions at the University of Chicago and London’s Royal Postgraduate Medical School, and worked at St Vincent’s University Hospital Dublin and St Finbarr’s Hospital in Cork. He has been published extensively in medical research fields and has led large-scale international research projects.

Prof McDonagh said the new president is an outstanding academic and proven leader who brings ambition, an inclusive vision, and management expertise to the job.

“UCC has a record of remarkable success in recent years and the governing body is confident that, under the leadership of Prof Murphy, the university will continue to play a lead role in third and fourth-level education,” he said.

The post will see Prof Murphy take charge of 16,000 students, an annual budget of €210 million aided by research income of €65m, the highest in the State. The job was advertised internationally in September and governing body sub-committee conducted interviews of shortlisted candidates this month.

Cork Chamber chief executive Conor Healy welcomed the decision, saying Prof Murphy will be instrumental in driving UCC as a world class institution which is required for the region to advance its economic standing.