PRESIDENT of the University of Limerick, Kerstin Mey has resigned from her role.
UL Chancellor, Professor Brigid Laffan confirmed in a statement on Friday afternoon that Professor Mey is stepping down as President but will remain employed within the University.
She stated, “Professor Mey shall resign from her role as President of the University of Limerick. From 1 September 2024, Professor Mey shall be taking up a Professorship role within the University”.
At the end of March, Professor Mey went on sick leave at a time when she was facing increasing pressure to resign from her post after a botched property deal involving UL. She extended her period of sick leave in the middle of April.
Professor Mey has been asked to consider her position by a number of groups, including members of the college’s executive committee, after it emerged the institution lost €5.2m after paying inflated prices for 20 homes in Rhebogue last year.
Her decision to go on sick leave occurred before college management were due to appear before the Public Accounts Committee.
Both UL Unite, the union that represents over 900 staff at the universityandthe UL Postgraduate Students Union passed a no confidence vote in the President.
She had been appointed President of UL in September 2020 on an interim basis following the early retirement of Prof Des Fitzgerald who took on the role in May 2017. In October 2021, she was appointed President on a ten year term.
After studying for an MA equivalent in Art and German language and literature at Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany, and obtaining a PhD in Art Theory and Aesthetics there, Kerstin held academic positions in universities in Germany and the UK.
Before she joined the University of Westminster as Pro-Vice Chancellor and Dean of Media, Arts and Design, and Professor of Contemporary Art and Theory in 2013, she was Director for Research and Enterprise at the University for the Creative Arts, UK. From 2009–2013, she led the research strand Art and its Locations in Interface: Centre for Research in Art, Technologies and Design at the University of Ulster and was Director of the Research Institute of Art and Design there.
