Academic biography

Elaine has worked as a post-primary teacher for a number of years, during which time she completed her doctoral research on the history of women's education in Ireland. Her research was awarded a prestigious IRCHSS Government of Ireland Scholarship, reflecting its national significance and scholarly contribution. Since completing her doctorate, she has worked full-time in teacher education, contributing to both academic leadership and pedagogical innovation.

From 2018 to 2021, Elaine served as Head of the School of Policy and Practice at the Institute of Education, Dublin City University (DCU). Her commitment to excellence in teaching was recognized in 2021 when she received the DCU President's Award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (Team Award). In 2025, she was again nominated for this award, as well as for Excellence in Doctoral Supervision, underscoring her sustained impact on student learning and mentorship.

Her teaching and research interests lie in student-centred approaches to teaching and learning, gender and education, inclusion and intercultural education. She has a particular interest in the application of Challenge-Based Learning within initial teacher education, exploring how this pedagogical model can empower student teachers to engage critically and creatively with real-world challenges.

Working with colleagues in the Institute of Education (IoE), Elaine has been a key member of the HEA-funded PATH project. This initiative adopted a three-strand approach aimed at promoting, encouraging, and supporting socially and economically disadvantaged students—both rural and urban—to view Initial Teacher Education (ITE) as a viable career pathway. Her involvement has focused on widening participation and fostering equity in access to teacher education, aligning with her broader commitment to inclusive and socially responsive educational practice. Currently, Elaine is engaged in a collaborative research project with colleagues from the Schools of Policy and Practice and SEIGS (Institute of Education, DCU), examining student teachers' engagement in school placement schools. This work aims to deepen understanding of the dynamics of professional learning in educational settings. 

Elaine has made a significant contribution to the broader academic community through her role as External Examiner for the Professional Master of Education (PME) programme at University College Cork, and has previously held similar positions for teacher education programmes at Atlantic Technological University (ATU), Letterfrack, and Vilnius University, Lithuania. She has delivered invited keynote addresses at both national and international conferences, focusing on topics such as the history of women's education, the role of school patronage, and the development of school ethos.