Brigid Laffan is an Irish political scientist and Emeritus professor at Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies at the

European University Institute The European University Institute (EUI) is an international postgraduate and post-doctoral research-intensive university and an intergovernmental organisation with juridical personality, established by its founding member states to contribu ...

. ''

Politico Europe ''Politico Europe'' (stylized as ''POLITICO Europe'') is the European edition of the American news organization '' Politico'' reporting on political affairs of the European Union. Its headquarters are located in Brussels with additional offices in ...

'' ranked her among women who shape Europe in November 2018. She has been Chancellor of the

University of Limerick University of Limerick (UL) () is a Public university, public research university institution in Limerick, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Founded in 1972, as the National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick, it became a university in Septemb ...

since November 2023.

Education

Laffan graduated in 1977 from National Institute for Higher Education (NIHE). After graduating, Laffan became a research co-ordinator at the

College of Europe The College of Europe (; ; ) is a post-graduate institute of European studies with three campuses in Bruges, Belgium; Warsaw, Poland; and Tirana, Albania. The College of Europe in Bruges was founded in 1949 as a result of the 1948 Congress of ...

in Bruges.

Career

In 2013, Laffan joined the

in Florence, where she was appointed as Director of the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies. She retired from the role in August 2021. Laffan was previously Professor of European Politics in

University College Dublin University College Dublin (), commonly referred to as UCD, is a public research university in Dublin, Ireland, and a collegiate university, member institution of the National University of Ireland. With 38,417 students, it is Ireland's largest ...

. She spoke up about structural discrimination of women in academia. On 2 November 2023, the University of Limerick approved Laffan as Chancellor, and chair of its governing body.

Awards

Laffan has been awarded numerous awards for her professional achievements, including: *

UACES UACES is a membership organisation for academics, students and practitioners in all fields of contemporary European studies and the study of the European Union. It is widely known as the editor and disseminator of the '' Journal on Common Market ...

Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014 * THESEUS Award for outstanding research on European Integration in 2012 * Ordre national du Mérite by the President of

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

in 2010

Personal life

Laffan was married to the businessman Michael Laffan, whom she met as a student. They had three children. Her husband died in a swimming accident in January 2022.

Other activities

* European Policy Centre (EPC), Member of the Governing Council (since 2021) *

Hertie School The Hertie School (until 2019 Hertie School of Governance) is a German private, independent graduate school for governance (public policy, international affairs and data science) located in Berlin. Hertie School is accredited to confer master's ...

, Member of the Board of TrusteesBoard of Trustees

. *

Royal Irish Academy The Royal Irish Academy (RIA; ), based in Dublin, is an academic body that promotes study in the natural sciences, arts, literature, and social sciences. It is Ireland's premier List of Irish learned societies, learned society and one of its le ...

, Member

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Laffan, Brigid Year of birth missing (living people) Place of birth missing (living people) Living people Academics of University College Dublin Irish political scientists Women political scientists Hertie School people Academic staff of the European University Institute Academic staff of the College of Europe UACES award