To celebrate International Women's Day (IWD), we are shining a light on some of the amazing women who help shape National College of Ireland. Find out what IWD means to them.
Karen Mooney, Head of Student Support and Welfare at NCI
International Women’s Day, March 8th, 2025
Shining a light on the women of NCI.
My name is Karen Mooney, and I am Head of Student Support and Welfare at NCI. I started working at NCI almost thirteen years ago.
Career and aspirations
Well, I wanted to be a nurse when I was in school but that didn’t work out for me. Instead, I took the Further Education route and studied Social Care which I really enjoyed. I studied Psychology as part of my Social Care course and loved it, so I decided to pursue that in college. My degree was 4 years so by the time I graduated I had spent 6 years studying after school. I could have been a doctor never mind a nurse!
After finishing college, I started working with young people with Muscular Dystrophy as a Youth Respite Worker. I loved my time with Muscular Dystrophy Ireland (MDI), but it was emotionally quite draining as due to the nature of the condition many of the young people I worked with over the years had passed away.
I knew I wanted to do more to support young people with disabilities lead independent and fulfilling lives so after nine years in my job I made the really tough decision to move on from MDI to the role of Disability Officer in NCI. This is a decision I will never regret as I have not only been able to work with some amazing students in NCI, but I have also been lucky enough to make some fantastic friends who I work with every day here in NCI.
Goals, dreams, and continuous development
Not to sound too much like a Ms. World contestant, but I always wanted to help others when I was young.
My Dad had Motor Neurone Disease, and I saw the impact that the people who cared for him made on our family, so I wanted to be able to offer that to someone else.
I also learned so much when my Dad acquired a disability. People suddenly treated him differently and I wanted to be able to help change this. I wanted to work with people with disabilities and acknowledge that they have so much to contribute to society and that they had a right to live a life of their own choosing. You never know when a disability or condition will knock on your own door and the impact that will have on your world.
My motivations
I think I’m mostly motivated by trying to be a good role model for my kids. I want them to know hard work and kindness are the key to a happy life.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
To be honest, I struggle with International Women’s Day as everything I do in my work and my personal life is based on fairness and equity. I think International Women’s Day can make some of our male family members, friends, and colleagues feel less important or put down.
International Men’s Day does not get the same recognition as International Women’s Day, and I struggle with this inequity.
I understand we have a long way to go in terms of equity for all but I’m not sure one big day is the way to go, we need to really live the message of equity in our day-to-day actions.
Gender equity in the workplace
I have been incredibly lucky in both my personal and work life that I have not been discriminated against (that I know of) based on my gender. I work with some incredible people who treat all people with respect and dignity.
Over my career I have had incredible managers who have always given me the most amazing advice and guidance, I have never been made to feel any different to any of my colleagues because of my gender.
I think the biggest changes in legislation that I have seen that impact people in the workplace is the extended leave for parents who have children. When I had my two kids I had to go back to work after six months, and my husband got no time off. I think the extended leave people can take, especially Fathers, is invaluable.