Limerick's Mary Immaculate College announce new president

MARY Immaculate College has announced the appointment of its 11th president.

Professor Dermot Nestor, a leading biblical scholar, will take over from Prof Eugene Wall, who is scheduled to retire later this summer.

Originally from Caherdavin on the city's northside, Prof Nestor will take on the mantle from November.

He is currently based in Sydney, where he is professor of Hebrew bible at the Australian Catholic University (ACU).

He joined here 13 years ago following the completion of his BA Hons course at Trinity College, where he also presented a PhD on the topic of ancient Israelite identity.

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In Australia, Prof Nestor has served as ACU's national head of school (theology), and for an extended period, the executive Dean for the faculty of theology and philosophy.

He has been published widely in his specific areas of expertise - ancient Israelite history and religion, and has successfully supervised numerous PhD students.

"It is a genuine honour to be appointed the 11th president of Mary Immaculate College. It is a role I accept with deep
humility and extended gratitude," he said.

He thanked the college's trustees, and Bishop Brendan Leahy for the faith and trust they have placed in him.

"Secondly, I acknowledge and acclaim the significant and substantial efforts of former presidents, particularly Professors Eugene Wall and Michael Hayes. Their imagination and industry has established Mary Immaculate College as Ireland’s leading
Catholic college of education and the liberal arts. Finally, I appreciate and acclaim the wide-ranging contributions of college staff, students, and alumni, along with the college’s many stakeholders and partners," added Prof Nestor.

Congratulating Professor Nestor on his forthcoming appointment Limerick Bishop Leahy, who chairs the college's trustees and governing authority, said: "I am delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Dermot Nestor as the next president of Mary Immaculate College. With over 20 years’ experience as an academic, researcher and leader, Dermot’s appointment comes at a particularly exciting juncture in the college’s history and he is expertly placed to lead it through its next stage of development."

Bishop Leahy added his thanks to retiring president, Prof Wall, saying: “Eugene’s tenure as president has been extremely successful but the six years he has occupied that role make up only a fraction of the 44 years in total that he has spent at Mary Immaculate College, beginning as a lecturer and, prior to his appointment as president, as registrar/vice-president for academic Affairs. In his distinguished career, he has made an enormous contribution, not just to the college, but to Irish education as a whole in terms of research and active participation in numerous organisations."

Prof Nestor is married to Mary Ryan and they have two boys, James and Richard.