Academic biography

Paula Murphy has worked as a lecturer in Drama Education since 1999. She currently lectures in undergraduate and postgraduate  programmes in Drama and Education at the School of Arts Education and Movement, DCU. She previously worked as a primary school teacher and as Education Officer for TEAM Educational Theatre Company. She is co-author of Discovering Drama: Theory and Practice for the Primary School (Gill & MacMillan, 2006) and has held leadership positions in ADEI (Association for Drama in Education in Ireland) since its foundation in 1999. Paula received two President's awards for teaching and learning from St. Patrick's College, one of which included a team award with her colleagues in Drama Education. In 2019 she received a DCU President's award for Distinctive Approaches to Innovation in Teaching at Dublin City University.

Paula is a qualified movement educator and therapist (ISMETA approved - International Somatic Movement Education and Therapy Association). Between 2012 and 2016 she studied with pioneering dance artist and psychotherapist Joan Davis at the Gorse Hill Centre in Greystones, where she completed her accreditation. She also holds a certificate in sound healing and has trained with Chloe Goodchild of the Naked Voice Foundation, UK. 

Paula is currently completing doctoral research at University College Cork, which focuses on the role of embodiment in teacher education and arts education.