Lahy, Patricia Mary

Dr Patricia Lahy was senior lecturer in Psychology, Dean of Arts 1980-85 (the first woman to hold that role), Pro-Vice-Chancellor 1987-91, and Student Ombudsman at the University 1994-99. An obituary is printed in the University News (18 June 2004) noting her contributions the Faculty of Arts, the University of Sydney, and the University of Western Sydney 1987-91 (on behalf of the University of Sydney). She was educated at North Sydney Girls High School and attended Sydney Teachers College receiving a Dip Ed (Physical Education) in 1949 and her Teaching Certificate in 1952. She graduated BA in 1963, and began work in the Department of Psychology in 1963 as senior tutor under Professor W M O'Neil, then lecturer in 1965 and senior lecturer in 1977. She was Dean of Arts from 1980 to 1985 when she held the position of Exeuctive Assistant to the Vice-Chancellor (Professor JM Ward) from 1986 - 1987. She was selected for the new position at Sydney of Pro-Vice Chancellor in 1987, with special responsibility for organising the structure of the three tertiary colleges in Western Sydney, which from 1988 were to be amalgamated as the University of Western Sydney. Dr Lahy was on the Board of Governors of UWS from 1989 to 1991. She retired from full time employment in 1991, but returned to the University of Sydney between 1994 and 1999 to run, part-time, the office of the Student Ombudsman. She was a Fellow of Senate from 1982 to 1985. In 1992 Dr Lahy received an Order of Australia.