Building Bridges Wherever Life Takes You

Noelle O Connell BA 2013 is no stranger to international engagement. A native of Cork, Noelle parlayed her honours course in European Studies, French, and Spanish into becoming Vice President of European Movement International. She left that position earlier this year to open her own practice, Merrion Advisory, helping organisations navigate the intersection of geopolitics, regulation, and strategic communications.

Her many volunteer activities with UCC reflect this same passion. Noelle has led UCC’s Dublin Chapter and now chairs the university’s International Alumni Advisory Board (IAAB), helping to strengthen the connection between the university and its community of more than 238,000 alumni spanning every corner of the globe.

Staying connected through giving back

Leaving Cork doesn’t have to mean leaving UCC behind, and Noelle's story highlights how volunteering offers a meaningful way to support the university from anywhere.

Noelle was a very active student at UCC, taking part in clubs and societies, Erasmus, student politics, and representation. These activities helped her establish a connection with the university that has stayed with her throughout her life and ultimately inspired her commitment to giving back.

“Volunteering allows me to play a small part to ensure the next generation of UCC students have the same opportunities that paved the way for me.”

Through her work as Chair of the Dublin Chapter and now Chair of the International Alumni Advisory Board, Noelle helps strengthen connections by ensuring that alumni perspectives from different regions are represented and that opportunities to engage with UCC extend beyond campus. She is able to do all of this from her home in Dublin and even took a jaunt to Cork last year to be master of ceremonies for UCC’s Alumni Achievement Awards (pictured below).

Mentoring students, bringing alumni together locally, organising a class reunion, or sitting on a committee are all small acts that give a lot back and help keep your UCC ties strong.

A relationship that lasts

UCC remains an important touchstone in Noelle's life and career. She describes the university as the springboard for her professional achievements and a place that helped shape the person she is today.

“Most of all, giving back gives me a sense of purpose,” she says. “It’s personally fulfilling to play a small part in helping shape the future of UCC.”

Learn more about how you can volunteer with UCC by visiting the Advancement Office’s Stay Connected web page.