Athena Swan

Our School recently received an Athena Swan Bronze award for undertaking an evidence-based, transparent self-assessment process to direct our priorities and interventions for gender equality. Our actions aim to eliminate obstacles to success that may arise because of a student or a staff member’s gender. Our EDI committee is working to improve work and study in this school for all, regardless of race, disability, nationality, or contract type.

Meet the Athena Swan Self Assessment Team

Athena Swan SAT Team for SLLC

The Athena Swan Self Assessment Team submitted a 10,000-word document to apply for the Athena Swan Ireland Bronze Award under the leadership of Dr. Catherine Emerson in November 2024. The SAT gathered critical information and collaborated on creating a meaningful action plan going forward. They received the Award in April 2025 and were commended for their plans to run workshops on managing accommodations for neurodivergent and dyslexic students and for funding training for staff who wished to develop a specialism in this area.

The School of Languages, Literatures and Cultures was overjoyed at this outcome and celebrated the Athena Swan Bronze Award in style after their Board meeting in June 2025.

SLLC Staff Athena Swan celebration

Staff Spotlight

Take a look at our current featured staff

Éamon Ó Cofaigh profile photo

Dr Éamon Ó Cofaigh - Lecturer in French

About Éamon - Research Profile

Interests: Reading, cinema, music, travel, languages

What do you like about your work? I most enjoy engaging with students and seeing their curiosity and confidence grow. I also value being able to explore ideas and to discuss them in class with students in an open and safe environment.

An open sentence related to EDI: For me, equality and diversity mean supporting students by recognising and valuing the different circumstances they bring to the classroom and by allowing them to demonstrate their strengths.

Jeanne Voisin profile photo

Jeanne Voisin - Teaching Assistant (French Language)

Interests: Baking, reading, listening to music, going to concerts, hiking.

What do you like about your work? It is my first time teaching, I know what it is like to be stressed and sometimes scared. I like the fact that I can relate to the students in front of me and reassure them if they need it. So, I do my best to offer my help on a language that is not their own with pedagogy but also humour.

An open sentence related to EDI: For me equality, and diversity mean that any student should feel comfortable in their academic path and that they should feel free to speak on the topics brought in class without feeling judged or dismissed.

Tom Wilks profile photo

Dr Tom Wilks - Lecturer in German

About Tom - Research Profile

Interests: Questioning, finding out, getting to know and understand, comparing and contrasting, more questioning.

What do you like about your work? Its existence (at the time of writing) and its potential to accommodate difference and to encourage understanding.

An open sentence related to EDI: The abbreviation and the nouns for which it stands emphasise to me that words need work and are not as they may seem.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee members

Catherine Emerson

Catherine Emerson

Committee Chair and Associate Professor
Email: catherine.emersonAt signuniversityofgalway.ie
Researcher profile

Pilar Alderete

Pilar Alderete

Assistant Professor
Email: pilar.aldereteAt signuniversityofgalway.ie
Research Profile

Iryna Andrusiak

Iryna Andrusiak

Researcher
Email: iryna.andrusiakAt signuniversityofgalway.ie
Research Profile

Andrea Ciribuco

Andrea Ciribuco

Assistant Professor
Email: andrea.ciribucoAt signuniversityofgalway.ie
Research Profile

Marion Krauthaker

Marion Krauthaker

Assistant Professor
Email: marion.krauthakerAt signuniversityofgalway.ie
Research Profile

Natalie Nevin

Natalie Nevin

Administrator
Email: natalierebecca.nevinAt signuniversityofgalway.ie

Ailbhe Nic Giolla Chomhaill

Ailbhe Nic Giolla Chomhaill

Assistant Professor
Email: Ailbhe.NicGiollaChomhaillAt signuniversityofgalway.ie
Research Profile

Tina-Karen Pusse

Tina-Karen Pusse

Associate Professor
Email: tina-karen.pusseAt signuniversityofgalway.ie
Research Profile