Personal profile

Biography

As a feminist I undertake research prioritising women; as an educator I am passionately interested in excellent teaching and learning and work to support those who have struggled to access it; and, as a life-long advocate for value of the Humanities, theatre specifically, I work to contribute to the democratisation of culture and public spaces (such as theatres) from which some people feel excluded. 

I am a member of the Practice-Led Active Creative Engagement (PLACE) working group within the Analysing Social Change (ASC) Research Group in SETU. Researchers in PLACE create and investigate literature, dance, drama, film, and theatre practice investigating the power of narrative as it pertains to the self and social structures, and explore how stories are created and expressed through different media and genre. An interest in, and active pursuit of, social justice, equality, and accessibility coheres researchers within PLACE as does a determination to pursue those interests through a variety of methodologies that prioritise aesthetic ways of knowing. Researchers within PLACE prioritise performative methodologies, using creative engagements to generate and articulate new knowledge as a means of supporting a more inclusive, diverse, and equal society.

Prior to my career in academia I worked as a drama workshop facilitator, theatre company, arts and festival manager in Britain and Ireland in both state funded and commercial theatre organisations including: Paul Farrah Productions, Strand Theatre, London; SVC Television, Soho, London; Garter Lane Arts Centre; Waterford Healing Arts Trust; John Roberts Festival Waterford; Waterford Spraoi; Theatre Producer’s Group Northern Ireland; Arts Council of Northern Ireland; Department of Cultural Affairs, University of Ulster; Arts Council of Ireland; The Hawk’s Well Theatre; The Pushkin Foundation; Tinderbox Theatre Company; Ridiculusmus Theatre Company; KTS Consulting; CHL Consulting; The Riverside Theatre, University of Ulster, and Big Telly Theatre Company. I have also served as theatre critic for Irish Theatre Magazine and provide occasional opinion pieces for The Irish Examiner.

Teaching

2006-Present: Lecturer in Theatre Studies and English, Department of Arts.
2008 – 2011: Course Leader, MA in Arts & Heritage Management, Department of Arts.

Consultancy

2021- present Advisor for the And-Mitchell Project, a research initiative funded by the Regional Government of Andalucia, Spain which assembles a team of scholars from the universities of Almería and Pablo de Olavide, in Spain, and South East Technological University, in Ireland, with the aim of exploring the life and work of Mairin Mitchell.

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  • SDG 4 - Quality Education
  • SDG 5 - Gender Equality
  • SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities
  • SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities
  • SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Education/Academic qualification

PhD, PhD: 2007, University of Uls“Mysterious and Fantastic Strange”: The Dramatic Work of George Fitzmaurice , Ulster University

20002005

Award Date: 17 Jun 2005

Masters Degree, Anglo-Irish Literature, Ulster University

19982000

Award Date: 20 Jun 2000

Bachelors Degree, English and Drama, University of Hull

19921995

Award Date: 08 Jun 1995

External positions

Advisor And-Mitchell Project, University of Almeria

01 Sep 2021 → …

Keywords

  • PR English literature
  • PN0441 Literary History
  • PN2000 Dramatic representation. The Theater
  • PE English

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