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Kevin Reilly

Academic Leader, Author and Scholar

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Background: The Autograph Tree on Lady Gregory’s Coole Park Estate.
Click here for a guide to the carved initials.

Academic Leader, Author and Scholar

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Kevin P. Reilly, PhD, is a national leader in higher education, respected author on academic governance and policy, and a dedicated scholar of Irish literature and history.

President Emeritus and Regent Professor of the University of Wisconsin System, Reilly brings decades of distinguished leadership and service to public higher education. Guided by a deep commitment to academic excellence, faculty development, and student success, he led the UW System through periods of growth and change while championing interdisciplinary learning, global engagement, and the public mission of universities.

Writing for national and regional outlets, Reilly’s recent publications span university leadership challenges, the intersection of public policy, education and workforce development, and Irish literature and cultural history.

While not writing about things higher education and Irish, Reilly works as a consultant and speaker, advising universities worldwide on strategy and leadership.

New Book Now Available
Gregory Ghosts: Haunting Irishness

Kevin Reilly’s book, Gregory Ghosts: Haunting Irishness, examines the triumphs and tribulations of Lady Augusta Gregory, one of Ireland’s most influential cultural figures. She was a prime mover and shaker of the Irish Literary Revival, while at the same time as a widow she managed her large estate, Coole Park, in County Galway. An author, translator, folklorist, and co-founder of Dublin’s Abbey Theatre, Lady Gregory’s life is creatively explored through the perspectives of those who knew her best.

Gregory Ghosts: Haunting Irishness was published by international academic publisher Peter Lang in January 2026.

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Gregory Ghosts
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Reviews of Gregory Ghosts: Haunting Irishness

  • “Melding scholarship and creative work, Kevin Reilly’s Gregory Ghosts vividly explores the origins of the Irish Literary Revival through fictionalized—though scrupulously factual—narratives written in the voices of the major players. The presence of Lady Gregory herself, in all her ambition and contradictions, shines through all of the lives that Reilly has so imaginatively re-created here.”

    — James Silas Rogers, Editor Emeritus, New Hibernia Review

  • “A fresh, vibrant, and fascinating contribution to the scholarly and popular literature on the Irish dramatic movement and the wider Irish Literary Renaissance.”

    — James Donnelly, Professor Emeritus of History, University of Wisconsin-Madison

  • “This book captivated me by way of its engaging imaginative premise, its originality, and its attention to historical detail.”

    —Dr. Kay Martinovich, School of Theatre and Dance, Northern Illinois University

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