UL president steps down for health reasons

The President of the University of Limerick Professor Roger Downer has resigned from his post for health reasons.

The governing authority at the university accepted his resignation at a meeting this morning.

Professor Downer has been battling cancer for the past 18 months.

A statement from the governing authority at UL said that Professor Downer had reluctantly accepted advice from doctors and family to step down from the post.

Chairman of the Governing Authority and UL Chancellor Mr Sean Donlon paid tribute to Professor Downer’s contribution to the university.

“He has led the university to its current very high standing in national and international educational circles and has, in particular, made an enormous contribution in the areas of research, learning and teaching,” said Mr Donlon.

The Belfast-native who was educated at Queen’s University has held the post for the past eight years and succeeded Dr Edward Walsh.

He obtained a PhD at the University of Western Ontario in Canada and he spent much of his academic career in Canada before taking the post at UL in 1998.

Professor Downer has overseen a major expansion of the UL campus and has been to the forefront in the campaign to bring a graduate medical school to the university.

Under his leadership, several world-class research institutes have been created at the university and 125 acres of land was acquired in Co Clare to allow expansion of the campus across the river Shannon Following yesterday’s announcement the Governing Authority at UL confirmed that Professor Downer will be awarded the lifetime title of ‘President Emeritus’ in recognition of his contribution to the University of Limerick.

Professor Downer, who is married with three children, will continue to undertake a certain amount of consultancy work at the university until 2008. The Vice-President of administration, John O’Connor, will take up the role of acting President of the University of Limerick.