HEA PATH Project Team

Dr Keelin Leahy

Dr Keelin Leahy is an Associate Professor / Senior Lecturer of Technology Education at the School of Education, University of Limerick. Keelin’s main teaching areas are in Initial Teacher Education, undergraduate suite of Wood Design and Technology modules in Years 1 to 4. To support this discipline knowledge, skills and value at post-primary Keelin published ‘Design Roots’ (2nd edition, 2023; 1st edition, 2019). Keelin’s main research interests include creativity in education, design methods and pedagogical approaches for creative problem-solving in the context of real-world problems. Keelin collaborated with University of Michigan and Iowa State University to develop Design Heuristics to support creative tools across the levels of education. Following this, Keelin furthered idea generation teaching and learning for enhancing creativity and innovation through the development of an inclusive educational programme ‘IDEAS hub’, aimed at Primary and Post-Primary school teachers, and students aged between 5-17 years. Current research projects as Principal Investigator include Ubuntu Network Partnership (GCE focus) (3-year), and HEA PATH1 (inclusive education focus) (2-year).

Dr Aishling Flaherty

Aishling Flaherty joined the School of Education in July 2019. Prior to joining the school, Aishling was a post-doctoral research associate in Professor Melanie M. Cooper's lab at Michigan State University. Aishling has a B.Sc Education (First Class Honours) and a PhD in Chemistry Teacher Education from the University of Limerick. Aishling has published articles on chemistry teacher education, emotions in chemistry education and chemistry teaching and learning and is interested in learning more about how emotions influence how people learn science. 

Dr Rachel Lenihan

Dr Rachel Lenihan is an Assistant Professor in Teaching, Learning and Assessment in the School of Education at the University of Limerick. She teaches on Initial Teacher Education programmes at both undergraduate and post-graduate levels and is Course Director for the Diploma in Drug and Alcohol Studies. Before joining UL in 2022, Rachel was a post-primary teacher of English and History for 17 years, as well as Assistant Principal I in her school. She worked as a School Placement Development Officer in UL in 2015-2016, supporting undergraduate students while on school placement and forging links between schools and the university. She was seconded to the support services for teachers as an English Advisor with Junior Cycle for Teachers from 2016-2018 and supported the team before and since as an English Associate. She continues to engage in work regarding curriculum reform in post-primary English with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA). Rachel’s doctoral study, completed in 2019, examines teachers’ understandings of adolescent literacy in the post-primary setting. She continues to research in areas that include literacy, education policy, English pedagogy, Global Citizenship Education, assessment and reflective practice.

Dr Erasmos Charamba

Nicola Moses

Dr Karina Ryan

Dr Rhona McCormack, Head of Student Affairs

Professor Paul Conway

Dr Mary Masterson

Dr Simon Clancy

Dr Joanne O'Flaherty

Dr Ciara Healy