Anne O Connor

Dr. Anne O Connor serves as a Lecturer in the Department of Business at South East Technological University (SETU), actively engaging in research and teaching while accepting new PhD students. Her academic profile bridges business education with specialized sociological research in human-animal interactions.

Her research centers on occupational sociology within animal welfare contexts, particularly examining how animal-shelter workers find meaning and sanctuary in their careers. This work intersects with veterinary social work, social psychology, and non-profit sector dynamics, revealing the complex human dimensions of animal care professions. Her focus extends to the emotional labor and identity formation within animal-shelter environments.

Dr. O Connor's publication 'Finding Sanctuary in the Occupational Choice of Animal-Shelter Work' (2022) establishes her contribution to understanding career motivations in this field, demonstrating consistent scholarly output in human-animal studies. Her work reveals growing interdisciplinary interest in the psychological and social aspects of animal welfare work.

Her accolades include:

• Goethe Institut German Lecturer Winner for Ireland in Europe-Wide Competition (1996)
• Poems for 2009 Calendar Oxfambooks (2009)
• Teaching Award (2021)
• Winner Writers' Forum Poetry Competition (2009)

As an educator, she supervises PhD candidates in Sociology and maintains active professional engagement through editorial work for the Journal of Human-Animal Studies and University of Georgia Press. Her leadership roles include Chair of the Sociological Association of Ireland (2019-present) and Chair of the Animal/Human Study Group at the British Sociological Association (2017). Fluent in French and German with intermediate Italian and Irish proficiency, she leverages multilingual capabilities in international academic collaborations.