Ferdinand von Prondzynski

Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski took over the Presidency of Dublin City University in July 2000 succeeding Dr. Danny O'Hare who had completed his ten years in office as president of the university.

The position of president includes a residence on the Whitehall campus called "An Grianán". Like other buildings on DCU's campus such as the Albert College building and "Elmhurst House", "An Grianán" is a [http://www.dublincity.ie/shaping_the_city/future_planning/development_plan/VOLUME%203.pdf Protected Structure] . The Prondzynski family home is Knockdrin Castle, County Westmeath.

He was born on 30 June 1954 in Germany. His family emigrated to Ireland, and he became an Irish citizen in 1976. He was educated at Headfort School, Kells, County Meath and Trinity College, Dublin from which he graduated in 1978 with a B.A. and an LL.B., and from the University of Cambridge in 1983 with a Ph.D.

From 1980 to 1990 he was a Lecturer in the School of Business Studies, Trinity College, Dublin (Fellow of the College from 1987). From 1991 to 2000 he was Professor of Law in the University of Hull; for much of that time he was also a Dean - first of the School of Law, and latterly of the Faculty of Social Sciences. Professor von Prondzynski was also a Director of the British-American Business Council. He has achieved international status as an authority on employment and commercial law. He is also an expert on European Union matters and on competition (antitrust) policy. Since becoming President of DCU he has become known for his comments on higher education and other public policy issues, and he is the author of a blog.

He is also a member of the Irish National Competitiveness Council, and a non-executive Director of the NASDAQ-listed e-learning company, Skillsoft plc.

Ferdinand von Prondzynski is married to Dr. Heather Ingman, a well known academic and novelist, and an occasional writer in the "Irish Times" newspaper. Dr. Ingman is a Lecturer in English Literature at Trinity College, Dublin. They have two children, Sebastian and Theo, and an estate ouside Mullingar. He is a member of the Church of Ireland and a keen follower of Newcastle United football club. [Irish Times, 23 Sept 2008, Education Today, Profile by Louise Holden]

He is a direct descendant of Ferdinand von Prondzynski, a 19th century Prussian General from Opole, Poland.

External links

* [http://www.dcu.ie/president/biography.shtml Biography] Dublin City University
* [http://universitydiary.wordpress.com/ Blog by Ferdinand von Prondzynski]