University College Dublin (UCD) has announced the appointment of professor Karina Pierce as dean of agriculture and head of the UCD school of agriculture and food science, taking effect from 1 September 2026.

This appointment marks a historic first for the school, as professor Pierce becomes the first woman to hold the position in the school’s history.

The announcement comes as the school commemorates the centenary of the establishment of the faculty of agriculture at UCD under the University Education (Agriculture and Dairy Science) Act 1926.

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Professor Pierce, who is professor of dairy production at UCD, will succeed professor Frank Monahan as dean and head of the school, a position he has held since 2021.

Commenting on the appointment, professor Monahan said: “I am delighted to congratulate professor Pierce on this historic appointment. Karina is internationally recognised for her outstanding contributions to teaching and research, particularly through her work at UCD Lyons Farm and the UCD school of agriculture and food science.

"She has also demonstrated exceptional leadership within UCD and across the agri-food sector, both nationally and internationally. I have no doubt that under her leadership, the school will continue to strengthen its reputation for excellence in education, research and innovation while deepening its engagement with industry and society.”

Background

She graduated from UCD with a bachelor of agricultural science (BAgrSc) in 2001 and with a doctor of philosophy (PhD) in animal nutrition in 2005.

She is internationally recognised for her research on sustainable dairy cow production systems spanning grassland management, dairy cow nutrition, greenhouse gas emissions and farm profitability.

She has served as programme director of the BAgrSc dairy business programme and has held the role of director of external relations within the UCD school of agriculture since 2021.

Professor Pierce is widely respected across the Irish and international agri-food sector. She served as president of the Agricultural Science Association from 2011 to 2012 and was awarded a Nuffield Ireland scholarship in 2019, where she explored how research and innovation can help future-proof the agri-food sector.

She currently serves as a board member of Bord Bia and has previously served on the boards of Agri Aware, the Teagasc Authority and Nuffield Ireland.