On July 3rd, the Harvard Club of Ireland hosted an evening with Professor Joseph J. McCarthy, Senior Associate Dean and Director of Degree Programmes at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. The topic for the evening's discussion, was “Ask what you can do… Harvard's Kennedy School’s contribution to public leadership”. Professor McCarthy was accompanied by his wife Marina who was introduced to the gathering by Harvard Club of Ireland President, Dr. Seán Rowland.

The evening was attended by members and friends of the Club including Kathleen O’Toole (Chief Inspector of the Garda Inspectorate) and Mary O’Rourke (T.D. and former Minister of Education). Also in attendance were Sinéad Barry of Ernst & Young, Tom Leahy and Claire Aikins (members of the Club development team) as well as two of the Club’s newest members, Linda McLoughlin and Michael Ward.

After Professor McCarthy's lecture there was a lively discussion regarding American foreign policy, the upcoming presidential election and continuig Irish-US relations. The discussion was further enriched by contributions from Rev. Professor Vincent Twomey, Kingsley Aikins, Mary O'Rourke T.D. and Kathleen O'Toole.

Prof. McCarthy with Rev. Prof. Vincent Twomey	Prof. McCarthy, Bernard McNamara and Dr. Seán Rowland
Mary O'Rourke, T.D. with Prof. McCarthy	Bernard Kellner, Sinéad Barry and Dr. Seán Rowland
Bill Cullen, Marina McCarthy and John Cunningham	Marina McCarthy and Mary O'Rourke, T.D.

About Professor McCarthy
Joseph McCarthy is Senior Associate Dean and Director of Degree Programs at the John F. Kennedy School of Government. Dr. McCarthy holds B.A. and M.A. degrees in English Language and Literature from Boston College and a doctorate in Administration, Planning and Social Policy from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education. Dr. McCarthy began his career at Harvard in 1982 at the Graduate School of Education where he worked as a Teaching Fellow, Research Assistant and as an Administrator in the Office of the Dean. He also taught in Harvard College’s Expository Writing Program. From 1987 to 1990, he served as Executive Assistant to the Dean at the John F. Kennedy School of Government and, from 1990 to 1996, as Assistant Dean for Academic Planning in Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences Office of Academic Affairs. In his current position at the Kennedy School, he has oversight responsibility for administration of four masters degree programs and two doctoral programs. He also serves on a number of outside boards. He is a Trustee of Regis College in Weston, Massachusetts and Hibernia College, as well as a member the Board of Shareholders at the Harvard COOP. He is a former Trustee of Stonehill College in Easton, Massachusetts. His professional experience includes 10 years of teaching and administration in independent and public schools including in suburban Boston and Washington, The Hague and Athens.