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Former Irish president Mary McAleese is to work as a professor at the University of Glasgow, the institution has announced.<\/p>\nFormer Irish president Mary McAleese is to work as a professor at the University of Glasgow, the institution has announced.<\/p>\n
She has taken up a position as a professor of children, law and religion.<\/p>\n
University chiefs have described Professor McAleese \u2013 the president of Ireland for two terms from 1997 to 2011 \u2013 as an accomplished academic with a huge amount of experience in her field.<\/p>\n
Professor McAleese\u2019s post is a joint appointment between the university\u2019s arts and social sciences colleges.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cJoining the University of Glasgow opens up exciting prospects for collaboration in teaching and research on the subjects of children, law and religion.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe university has a culture of innovation and cross-disciplinary engagement which augurs well for fresh and fascinating scholarly initiatives in these fields. I am looking forward to being part of these developments.\u201d<\/p>\n
Professor McAleese was the first president of Ireland to have come from Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n
Born in Belfast, she experience first-hand the violence of The Troubles and would later go on to play a role in the Northern Ireland peace process.<\/p>\n
For many years prior to her presidency, she was involved in social justice campaigning.<\/p>\n
Trained as a barrister and journalist, Prof McAleese is formerly a professor of criminal law at Trinity College in Dublin and pro-vice chancellor at Queen\u2019s University in Belfast.<\/p>\n
She has also completed a doctorate in canon law at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, with the thesis to be converted into two books on children\u2019s rights.<\/p>\n
Since 2013, she has taught courses in various higher educational institutions on topics including children rights, LGBT rights in international law, conflict resolution and the Irish peace process.<\/p>\n
Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli, the principal and vice-chancellor of the University of Glasgow, said he is \u201cabsolutely delighted\u201d that Prof McAleese is joining the team.<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cAs well as being well known on the international stage, she is an accomplished academic with vast experience in her field. I have no doubt her insights and wisdom will be of great benefit to our students and staff.\u201d<\/p>\n