The role of Associate Dean for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in the Faculty of Arts, Celtic Studies and Philosophy was originally created in 2021 as a bridge between the Faculty’s Athena SWAN Submission and the implementation of the subsequent Gender Equality Action Plan (GEAP).
 
The primary, linked roles of the Associate Dean for EDI were to provide expertise and leadership in the specific project of the Athena SWAN submission and continuity of leadership in EDI issues in the implementation of the subsequent GEAP. Most importantly, the appointment of an Associate Dean for EDI emphasised the importance with which the Faculty treats its commitment to real change via the Athena SWAN process, and it was the first such Associate Deanship created by any of the faculties in Maynooth University.
 
The Associate Dean for EDI was the co-chair of the Faculty’s successful application for Athena SWAN Bronze Award. The Faculty will retain the Bronze Award, and be eligible to apply for a Silver Award upon the successful and timely implementation of the GEAP, that was submitted in the application.
 
The Associate Dean is the lead chair on the Athena SWAN Implementation Group, working to ensure that the Faculty maintains Athena SWAN Bronze Award and lays foundations for the Silver Award. Being Athena SWAN accredited is central to an institution being eligible for HEA funding for researchers, and is a core driver of equality and inclusion change. Thus, the role of Associate Dean for EDI is also one of advocacy.
 
The Associate Dean for EDI also sits on Maynooth University Gender Equality Steering Group and acts as a liaison between the Vice President of Equality & Diversity and the Faculty.
 
The Associate Dean for EDI is a champion for and a leader in EDI issues in the Faculty. The Associate Dean for EDI ensures that EDI and Athena SWAN are standing items at Faculty meetings, thus formalising EDI as an area as important to the Faculty as research and teaching & learning (T&L), and underscoring how EDI underwrites and drives much of our work in both research and T&L.