MSU Names Dillon Grace As New Director General

Maynooth, Thursday, 30 September 2021. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MSU today announces that the MSU President has appointed Dillon Grace to the newly created role of MSU Director General.

Mr Grace, who brings with him significant experience of student representation and activism, will succeed outgoing Operations & Finance Manager, Sandra Byrne, as administrative head of MSU.

The new role of Director General will oversee the day-to-day management and non-political strategic planning and direction of MSU. Mr Grace responsibilities will include the successful direction, planning, and execution of Executive, Student Senate, and Board of Trustees policies and further optimisation of the organisation to achieve its vision to create an environment in which every member of MSU is provided with a world class academic and student life experience.

These leadership appointments are effective immediately and follow the decision that Ms Byrne move from Operations & Finance Manager to a new role of Director of Finance. MSU's Board of Trustees and Executive Committee support and embrace these appointments.

Mr Grace joined the MSU staff complement in 2017 and held the role of Union Development Administrator before taking on the position of Director of Democratic Affairs.

Prior to this, Mr Grace held senior positions on the MSU Executive; being elected VP Education in 2015 and elected MSU President in 2016.

Commenting on Mr Grace’s new role, MSU President, Liam Cosgrove said: “I couldn’t think of anyone better to take up the mantel of Director General of MSU and help me to lead the organisation in a new direction focused on providing the strongest and best quality representation to our students. I would also like to thank Ms. Sandra Byrne for her incredible contribution to MSU over the last decade which has allowed us to become one of the strongest students’ unions in the country, I am delighted she will remain with us.”

Mr Grace said, “I am honoured and excited to support the work of the MSU President and Executive. I believe a strong students union is vital to provide for, promote, and defend the interests of its members. I would like to thank Sandra for her hard work and determination in embedding a strong student first culture within MSU. I am truly grateful for the MSU President’s trust and for this opportunity to continue to serve the needs of the students of Maynooth”.

Speaking on behalf of the board, Mr Hennessy said, “We very much appreciate Dillon’s efforts and his service to MSU since joining in 2015. As MSU continues its journey of development and growth, it is with great pleasure we welcome Dillon to the role of Director General of the organisation. The MSU has a team of dedicated staff, students and volunteers whose generosity and hard work have been to the fore in serving the ever-growing student population on the campus. Dillon has served ably at all levels of the organisation being a student of Maynooth University, President of MSU and Director of Democratic Affairs. He takes over his leadership role from Sandra, another strident advocate of students' rights and services. We thank her for many years of service and are delighted she is remaining part of the team.”

ENDS

About Maynooth Students’ Union:

Maynooth Students’ Union is the representative body for the students of Maynooth University and Saint Patricks College Maynooth and seeks to serve their social, cultural, welfare, educational, political, and developmental needs, to further their interests, and generally to enhance their well-being.

MSU operate a student centre and provides a range of supports and other services to the student body. MSU also operates as a registered club for the purposes of running a members Bar (and venue).

MSU is an unincorporated association whose aims and objectives are defined by its Constitution adopted by its members.

MSU is a member organisation with the Union of Students in Ireland. For more information about MSU, please visit www.msu.ie

For more information, please contact:

Liam Cosgrove

MSU President 

president@msu.ie

(087) 908 3602

www.msu.ie