President of the University of Limerick
Kerstin Mey studied for an MA equivalent in Art, and German language and literature at Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany, and obtained a PhD in Art Theory and Aesthetics there. She held academic positions in universities in Germany and the UK before she joined University of Limerick (UL) as Vice President Academic Affairs and Student Engagement and Professor of Visual Culture in 2018. She was given responsibility as Interim President of UL in September 2020 and was appointed to the role of President in October 2021.
Over the past 30 years, Kerstin Mey has built a track record of successfully initiating and implementing pioneering academic and research initiatives and cultural projects in higher education.
Her research interest focuses on 20th century and contemporary art and theory. It is concerned with art in the public space and public pedagogies, artistic research and the relationship between art, its documentation and archives. Amongst her numerous publications are the book Art and Obscenity and edited volumes Art in the Making; Sculpsit and Cross-Wired. She was the Director of ISEA2009, the International Symposium of Electronic Arts held on the island of Ireland under the theme ‘Engaged Creativity in Mobile Environments’.
Amongst others, she serves as a Board Member of the Irish Chamber Orchestra, EVA International Biennale, the Irish Aerial Creation Centre and the Hunt Museum and acts as a reviewer for international funding bodies