Prof. Brian MacCraith was President of Dublin City University (DCU) from July 2010 to July 2020, during which time DCU grew significantly in terms of scale, footprint, and reputation. During that period, DCU doubled its student numbers and added 3 new campuses to its original base in Glasnevin.
At DCU, Prof. MacCraith was very active in developing international partnerships, especially in the areas of research and innovation. He also pioneered a number of important developments in the area of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, including DCU’s designation as the world’s first ‘Autism-friendly University’.
Currently, he is a Senior Advisor to the President of Arizona State University (ASU), with specific responsibility for the development of strategic initiatives for the university in Europe.
Prof. MacCraith is a distinguished physicist and is renowned internationally for his research achievements in the areas of sensors and photonics. He is a member of the Royal Irish Academy (RIA), an Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Physics, an Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Engineers Ireland, and a Fellow of the Irish Academy of Engineers.
He has been appointed by the Irish government to a number of significant Public Service roles:
Chair, External Oversight Body of the Defence Forces (from April 2023 to December 2024)
Chair, High-Level Task Force on COVID-19 Vaccination (from November 2020 to April 2022)
Chair, Future of Media Commission (from September 2020 to July 2022)