The School of Social Sciences and Philosophy is delighted to welcome Professor Sharyn O'Halloran as the new Chair of Political Economy, a joint appointment between the Departments of Economics and Political Science. The Chair is funded by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) as part of the Senior Academic Leadership Initiative (SALI), a programme designed to bring new academic leadership to Irish universities in strategically important fields.
Professor O'Halloran joins Trinity from Columbia University, where she held the position of George Blumenthal Professor of Political Economics and International and Public Affairs, and served as Senior Vice Dean and Chief Academic Officer at the School of Professional Studies. A political scientist and economist by training, her research spans political economy, international trade and finance, regulation, and the use of artificial intelligence to analyse financial markets and predict the resilience of democracies to economic crises. She has consulted with the World Bank and advised governments on the intersection of economic development and political stability. At Trinity, Professor O'Halloran will serve across both the Economics and Political Science Departments, bringing with her a distinguished record of scholarship, leadership, and interdisciplinary expertise that will be a tremendous asset to the School.