{"id":4194,"date":"2021-09-08T16:06:35","date_gmt":"2021-09-08T15:06:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/?p=4194"},"modified":"2021-09-15T13:15:11","modified_gmt":"2021-09-15T12:15:11","slug":"closer-than-ever","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/2021\/closer-than-ever\/","title":{"rendered":"Closer Than Ever"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>ANOTHER EXCEPTIONAL YEAR challenged us to strengthen our ties with you, our alumni community, all over the globe. Not only did we continue a lively calendar of virtual events, we expanded our programme of engagement, and met tens of thousands of you online with our series of alumni conversations, workshops and career-building seminars, Women in Leadership conference, at Chapter events, and at the UCDFestival@home, among many others. It was uplifting and inspiring to see how our alumni community continued to connect and support students from countries all over the world. The past 18 months have demonstrated the value of virtual engagement, with more alumni abroad and at home attending virtual events, watching back and engaging with our YouTube channel, and volunteering to mentor students online. We will continue to communicate our programme of activities including ways to support incoming UCD students. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We welcome the class of 2021 as new alumni and fully appreciate how your final year was a challenging one. However, your ties to UCD are strong and will strengthen further over time. There are excellent career-building events and mentoring and student engagement opportunities that will enable you to reap the benefits throughout your whole career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u25a0 Update your details with us at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ucd.ie\/alumni\/updateyourdetails\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">www.ucd.ie\/alumni\/updateyourdetails<\/a> or email us at <a href=\"mailto:alumni@ucd.ie\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">alumni@ucd.ie<\/a>. We look forward to hearing from you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns c-contact-block-column is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-1 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover aligncenter has-background-dim has-custom-content-position is-position-bottom-center c-contact-block\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"432\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-2939\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Nicole-Black.jpg\" style=\"object-position:50% 14%\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" data-object-position=\"50% 14%\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Nicole-Black.jpg 300w, https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Nicole-Black-208x300.jpg 208w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-normal-font-size\">NICOLE BLACK<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">Director of Alumni Development<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover aligncenter has-background-dim has-custom-content-position is-position-bottom-center c-contact-block\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"388\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-2934\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/JENNIE-BLAKE.jpg\" style=\"object-position:47% 37%\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" data-object-position=\"47% 37%\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/JENNIE-BLAKE.jpg 300w, https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/JENNIE-BLAKE-232x300.jpg 232w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-normal-font-size\">JENNIE BLAKE<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">Student Experience,<br>Corporate Engagement<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover aligncenter has-background-dim has-custom-content-position is-position-bottom-center c-contact-block\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"375\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-2929\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/SinEad-Dolan.jpg\" style=\"object-position:55% 37%\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" data-object-position=\"55% 37%\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/SinEad-Dolan.jpg 300w, https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/SinEad-Dolan-240x300.jpg 240w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-normal-font-size\">SIN\u00c9AD DOLAN<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">Communications, Global Engagement<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover aligncenter has-background-dim has-custom-content-position is-position-bottom-center c-contact-block\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-2928\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Sheila-Morris.jpg\" style=\"object-position:49% 39%\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" data-object-position=\"49% 39%\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Sheila-Morris.jpg 300w, https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Sheila-Morris-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-normal-font-size\">SHEILA MORRIS<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">Mass Events, College Engagement<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns c-contact-block-column is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-2 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover aligncenter has-background-dim has-custom-content-position is-position-bottom-center c-contact-block\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-4205\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/LOUISE-DELAHUNTY.jpg\" style=\"object-position:44% 47%\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" data-object-position=\"44% 47%\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/LOUISE-DELAHUNTY.jpg 300w, https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/LOUISE-DELAHUNTY-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-normal-font-size\">LOUISE DELAHUNTY<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">Student Scholarships \/ Support<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover aligncenter has-background-dim has-custom-content-position is-position-bottom-center c-contact-block\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"451\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-2937\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Melissa-Byrne.jpg\" style=\"object-position:42% 47%\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" data-object-position=\"42% 47%\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Melissa-Byrne.jpg 300w, https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Melissa-Byrne-200x300.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-normal-font-size\">MELISSA BYRNE<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">Law<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover aligncenter has-background-dim has-custom-content-position is-position-bottom-center c-contact-block\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"372\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-2926\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Ria-Flom-1.jpg\" style=\"object-position:46% 45%\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" data-object-position=\"46% 45%\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Ria-Flom-1.jpg 300w, https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Ria-Flom-1-242x300.jpg 242w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-normal-font-size\">RIA FLOM<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">Alumni Volunteering<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover aligncenter has-background-dim has-custom-content-position is-position-bottom-center c-contact-block\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"476\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-2932\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Gillian-Durnin.jpg\" style=\"object-position:38% 32%\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" data-object-position=\"38% 32%\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Gillian-Durnin.jpg 300w, https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Gillian-Durnin-189x300.jpg 189w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-normal-font-size\">GILLIAN DURNIN<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">Business<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns c-contact-block-column is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-3 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover aligncenter has-background-dim has-custom-content-position is-position-bottom-center c-contact-block\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-2930\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Camille-Rogers.jpg\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Camille-Rogers.jpg 300w, https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Camille-Rogers-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-normal-font-size\">CAMILLE ROGERS<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">Communications<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover aligncenter has-background-dim has-custom-content-position is-position-bottom-center c-contact-block\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-2936\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Jude-Canniffe.jpg\" style=\"object-position:49% 45%\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" data-object-position=\"49% 45%\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Jude-Canniffe.jpg 300w, https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Jude-Canniffe-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-normal-font-size\">JUDE CANNIFFE<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">Events &amp; Clubs and Societies<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover aligncenter has-background-dim has-custom-content-position is-position-bottom-center c-contact-block\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-4204\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/ALEX-BOWKLEY.jpg\" style=\"object-position:44% 47%\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" data-object-position=\"44% 47%\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/ALEX-BOWKLEY.jpg 300w, https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/ALEX-BOWKLEY-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-normal-font-size\">ALEX BOWKLEY<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">Engineering and Architecture<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover aligncenter has-background-dim has-custom-content-position is-position-bottom-center c-contact-block\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-4203\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/CATHY-BROOKS.jpg\" style=\"object-position:49% 45%\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" data-object-position=\"49% 45%\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/CATHY-BROOKS.jpg 300w, https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/CATHY-BROOKS-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-normal-font-size\">CATHY BROOKS<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">Science<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns c-contact-block-column is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-4 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover aligncenter has-background-dim has-custom-content-position is-position-bottom-center c-contact-block\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-4202\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/MAEVE-OCONNELL.jpg\" style=\"object-position:47% 50%\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" data-object-position=\"47% 50%\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/MAEVE-OCONNELL.jpg 300w, https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/MAEVE-OCONNELL-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-normal-font-size\">MAEVE O&#8217;CONNELL<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">Science<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover aligncenter has-background-dim has-custom-content-position is-position-bottom-center c-contact-block\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-2935\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Jonathan-Weir.jpg\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Jonathan-Weir.jpg 300w, https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Jonathan-Weir-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-normal-font-size\">JONATHAN WEIR<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">Social Sciences<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover aligncenter has-background-dim has-custom-content-position is-position-bottom-center c-contact-block\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"400\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-2931\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Fiona-Bolger.jpg\" style=\"object-position:52% 42%\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" data-object-position=\"52% 42%\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Fiona-Bolger.jpg 300w, https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Fiona-Bolger-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">FIONA BOLGER<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">Health and Agricultural Sciences<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover aligncenter has-background-dim has-custom-content-position is-position-bottom-center c-contact-block\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"400\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-2938\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Michelle-Power.jpg\" style=\"object-position:48% 42%\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" data-object-position=\"48% 42%\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Michelle-Power.jpg 300w, https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Michelle-Power-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-normal-font-size\">MICHELLE POWER<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">Global Alumni Engagement<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns c-contact-block-column is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-5 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover aligncenter has-background-dim has-custom-content-position is-position-bottom-center c-contact-block\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-4201\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/MICHAEL-MULLOOLY.jpg\" style=\"object-position:52% 42%\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" data-object-position=\"52% 42%\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/MICHAEL-MULLOOLY.jpg 300w, https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/MICHAEL-MULLOOLY-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">MICHAEL MULLOOLY<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">Arts and Humanities<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover aligncenter has-background-dim has-custom-content-position is-position-bottom-center c-contact-block\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-2940\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Paulina-M.jpg\" style=\"object-position:45% 49%\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" data-object-position=\"45% 49%\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Paulina-M.jpg 300w, https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Paulina-M-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-normal-font-size\">PAULINA MARTYNIAK<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">Business<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover aligncenter has-background-dim has-custom-content-position is-position-bottom-center c-contact-block\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-2927\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Selena-Walsh.jpg\" style=\"object-position:51% 46%\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" data-object-position=\"51% 46%\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Selena-Walsh.jpg 300w, https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Selena-Walsh-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-normal-font-size\">SELENA WALSH<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">Digital Engagement<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover aligncenter has-background-dim has-custom-content-position is-position-bottom-center c-contact-block\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-4206\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/NIAMH-MCGOWAN.jpg\" style=\"object-position:48% 44%\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" data-object-position=\"48% 44%\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/NIAMH-MCGOWAN.jpg 300w, https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/NIAMH-MCGOWAN-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-normal-font-size\">NIAMH MCGOWAN<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">Volunteering and Student Experience<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>ANOTHER EXCEPTIONAL YEAR challenged us to strengthen our ties with you, our alumni community, all over the globe. Not only did we continue a lively calendar of virtual events, we expanded our programme of engagement, and met tens of thousands of you online with our series of alumni conversations, workshops and career-building seminars, Women in&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4694,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[83],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4194","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-83"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Closer Than Ever - UCD Connections<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/alumni.ucd.ie\/magazine\/2021\/closer-than-ever\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Closer Than Ever - UCD Connections\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"ANOTHER EXCEPTIONAL YEAR challenged us to strengthen our ties with you, our alumni community, all over the globe. 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