Biography

Prof. Michael Kelly

Michael Kelly was born in Tullamore in 1929. He was one of seven children. He and two of his siblings became Jesuit priests. He studied at University College Dublin and was awarded a B.A in Maths and Mathematical Physics in 1952, both with first class honours. He went on to receive a licentiate in philosophy in 1955. He moved to Zambia and has lived and worked there for 50 years, becoming a Zambian citizen. He worked for many years as headmaster of Canislius College in Chiseki in Zambia. He completed his PhD studies in the area of child and educational psychology in 1974 and subsequently became a senior lecturer and Dean of the School of Education in the University of Zambia (UNZA), in 1975. He served as pro-vice chancellor and deputy vice chancellor and became professor in 1989.

In the past ten years Professor Kelly has spent considerable time researching the devastating impact of HIV and AIDS in Africa and in particular its impact on education. He has been to the forefront of research on the interconnection between education and HIV and AIDS. His research in Zambia and in other parts of Africa and in the Caribbean has highlighted the negative impact on education on the spread of HIV and AIDS but also the critical role that education can play in the prevention of HIVAIDS. He advocates holistic responses that include theological, educational, and justice aspects and that offer thorough care of those infected by HIV and affected by AIDS. He has written and lectured extensively on the subject.

He has worked closely with Irish Aid in the development of its policy on HIV and AIDS in the education sector in Zambia and in other countries in Africa. He also has worked extensively with a number of international organisations such as UNESCO, UNICEF and the World Bank.

Professor Kelly’s contribution to the complex subject of HIV and AIDS combines the highest standard of scholarship with compassion and courage. Professor Kelly, through his extensive research and writings, has also demonstrated the positive impact of education itself on the spread of the disease. Furthermore, it is not simply education about AIDS, but rather any education at all that can make a difference. His research findings, widely distributed through meetings, articles and books, demonstrate that the more education is available, the less HIV is present.

Professor Kelly has focused particular attention on female children and her opportunities for schooling, having done specific research for UNICEF on this topic. He writes and speaks passionately about the increasing “feminisation of HIV and AIDS,”, in particular, the fact that women increasingly suffer from the spread of the pandemic, both as being infected and as being the primary care-givers of those infected.

He has not been shy to offer audiences the best of recent moral theological reflection on the use of the condom. While in no way speaking simplistically about the condom as 100% safe protection against HIV infection, he also does not speak simplistically about total rejection of its use. In an article in The Irish Times some years ago he challenged the orthodox view of the Catholic Church in its objection to the use of condoms.

In recognition of his work on HIV and AIDS Professor Kelly was awarded an Honorary Degree from University College Dublin in 2006.

In addition, in 2006, he was honoured by the Minister of State for Overseas Development Cooperation and Human Rights for his work on HIV and AIDS. This award consists of an annual lecture series in his name, the first of which will take place on December 1 st, 2006 and also a fellowship scheme in his name for Zambian students to undertake further education and research on HIV and AIDS.

In addition, in November 2004 Professor Kelly received an Honorary Degree from the University of the West Indies. This honour was in recognition of Professor Kelly’s leadership role in the field of education and HIV and AIDS in Africa and the Caribbean.

In 2003 he also received an award from the Commonwealth of Learning for his contribution to the fight against HIVAIDS in Africa.