Dr. Lekha Menon Margassery is a Technical Officer at the School of Microbiology, University College Cork, where she supports teaching, laboratory training, and student learning. A UCC alumna herself, she completed her PhD in Microbiology at UCC in 2013.

Lekha is one of the Founders of UCC Indian alumni Community and currently serving as the President of the UCC Indian Alumni Community (UIAC) since its establishment in  2017 which aims to strengthen connections between Indian alumni, current students, and the wider UCC community. Through UIAC, she has organised networking events, career and CV workshops, student support initiatives, 1G workshops and community programmes, with a strong focus on helping students build connections and make the most of their time at UCC. At the School of Microbiology, Lekha serves as the EDI Officer for International Students. She is also a member of UCC’s Race Equality Action Plan Working Group and has been involved in anti-racism initiatives promoting a more inclusive and welcoming environment. Beyond UCC, Dr. Lekha is actively involved in civic and community life in Cork. She was appointed Peace Commissioner for County Cork in 2026 and serves as the Public Participation Network-elected representative for Cork City Centre on Cork City’s Local Community Safety Partnership. She has also been involved in a number of community safety, equality, and volunteering initiatives across the city. In 2024, Dr. Lekha contested the local elections as a Labour Party candidate, further reflecting her commitment to community representation and public service.

She  is also the Founder and Director of Aatma Indian Dance Troupe, Cork, established in 2018 to promote Indian dance and culture while creating opportunities for people from diverse backgrounds to connect through the arts.

Her contributions to the university and wider community have been recognised through several awards, including the Person of the Year Award 2024 from the Confederation of Indians in Ireland, the Ireland Diversity Award 2022, and the Exceptional Citizen Award at the UCC Staff Recognition Awards 2021.

At the heart of her work is a passion for community, inclusion, culture, and giving back—creating connections and opportunities that support and empower others. She always says, “Indian at heart, Irish in spirit, and Corkonian by choice.”