The president: Professor Art Cosgrove

Term of office ends: 2003 Born: Newry, Co Down Education: Abbey CBS, Newry; BA(1961) and PhD(1971) Queen's University Belfast. "John Gray was the teacher who most influenced my life. He encouraged my interest in medieval history and my PhD in English ecclesiastical history."

Career: long-serving member of UCD. Joined the history department in UCD in 1963; appointed associate professor in 1990; head of the combined departments of history between 1991 and 1993.

Proudest of: "delighted to see the student centre going up (it opened last year). It was also very satisfying to see the veterinary college finally being built, after 30 years of promises. I hope I have made some improvements in the quality of teaching with the inauguration of teaching awards."

Family: married to Emer, former secondary and Montessori teacher; nine children aged 16 years to 32 years. All of the Cosgrove offspring, with the exception of the youngest, who is still at school, have attended UCD (one son currently in second-year business and law).