Researcher Details |

Irene White

Contact Details

SPC M 202
T:Ext. 9241

E:Irene.White@dcu.ie

Dr. Irene White is an Assistant Professor in the School of Human Development at Dublin City University's Institute of Education. She lectures in the areas of Creativity in Education, English Pedagogy, Drama in Education and Research Design. Irene is a member of the DCU Centre for Possibility Studies, the Centre for Collaborative Research Across Teacher Education (CREATE), and the Educational Disadvantage Centre at DCU. She is Principal Investigator and research team member on a range of research projects and has published in the areas of teacher education, teacher identity, creativity in education and creative activity for health and wellbeing.

Her work in the participatory arts includes her role as artist and director with Upstate Theatre Project on The Crossover Project, a cross-border, cross-community participative drama programme, and her work with students from the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development, New York University on the study abroad programme. Irene has worked with Smashing Times Theatre and Film Company on the ‘Acting for the Future' programme using drama and theatre performance to promote positive mental health and the 'Acting for Change' programme using drama to explore cultural diversity and identity.

Before joining DCU, Irene taught at post-primary where she was a mentor for initial teacher education students and a State Exams Commission examiner for the Leaving Certificate Applied Programme.

Book Chapter

	Year	Publication
	2019	White, I.; Foody, M.; O’Higgins Norman, J. (2019) 'Storytelling as a Liminal Space: Using a Narrative Based Participatory Approach to Tackle Cyberbullying Among Adolescents' In: Narratives in Research and Interventions on Cyberbullying Among Young People. [Link]
	2015	Irene White (2015) '''Whose art is it anyway?' Devising in Participatory Arts and Professional Theatre Practice: A Critical and Historical Analysis of Upstate Theatre Project' In: Devised Performance in Irish Theatre: Histories and Contemporary Practices.
	2014	White, Irene (2014) 'Playing Your Part: Using Drama Strategies to Promote Well-Being and Self-Esteem Among Young People' In: Education Matters, Readings in Pastoral Care for School Chaplains, Guidance Counsellors and Teachers. Dublin : Veritas.

Peer Reviewed Journal

	Year	Publication
	2026	White, I.; Gallagher, F.; Tiernan, P. (2026) '‘Now I understand what being creative looks like’: Preservice-teachers’ experiences of a module on creativity in education'. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 60 . [Link] [DOI]
	2021	White, I.; McSharry, M. (2021) 'Preservice teachers’ experiences of pandemic related school closures: anti-structure, liminality and communitas'. Irish Educational Studies, 40 . [Link] [DOI]
	2019	Lorenzi, F.; White, I. (2019) 'Liminality in education: generating a creative space of encounter and dialogue between teachers and students within educational structures'. Pastoral Care in Education, 37 . [Link] [DOI]
	2018	White, I.; Lorenzi, F.; O’Higgins Norman, J. (2018) 'Fighting words as revolutionary pedagogy: a Freirean reading of young people’s experiences of a socially-engaged creative writing centre'. Pastoral Care in Education, 36 . [Link] [DOI]
	2016	White, I.; Lorenzi, F. (2016) 'The development of a model of creative space and its potential for transfer from non-formal to formal education'. International Review of Education, 62 . [Link] [DOI]

Conference Contribution

	Year	Publication
	2026	Gallagher, E, Lorenzi, F & White, I. (2026) Educational Studies Association of Ireland Conference From curricular aspirations to pedagogical practice: Supporting creativity through the collaborative design of a bespoke creative writing workshop model Galway, .
	2025	White, Irene and Gallagher, Fiona (2025) 5th International Possibility Studies Conference 'Paws for Thought': Understanding how Therapy Dogs can Open New Possibilities in Education Maynooth, .
	2025	Gallagher, E, Lorenzi, F & White, I. (2025) 5th International Possibility Studies Conference A participatory approach to the development of a bespoke creative writing model for post-primary teachers Maynooth, .
	2025	Lorenzi, F., White, I. and Corrigan, T. (2025) Educational Studies Association of Ireland Conference Bridging Generations: Promoting Intergenerational Engagement in Post-Primary Education through Creative Drama Athlone, .
	2024	White, Irene, McSharry, Majella and Kirwan, Evan (2024) Education for more just societies: the roles of imagination, innovation and collaboration. Educational Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI) Becoming a Teacher Through Flexible Learning: Preservice Teachers' Experiences of a Flexible Delivery Model of Initial Teacher Education Maynooth, .
	2024	Mc Sharry, Majella and White, Irene (2024) British Educational Research Association (BERA) Policing Risky Bodies: The Embodied Work and Experiences of Preservice Teachers During the Covid-19 Pandemic Manchester, .
	2023	White, I.; Gallagher, F.; Tiernan, P. (2023) 3rd International Conference of Possibility Studies: Cultivating the Possible ‘Now I understand what being creative looks like’: Empowering preservice teachers to become creative inclusive practitioners Online, .
	2022	McSharry, Majella and White, Irene (2022) Teacher Education and Practice: Foresight and Hindsight Masks Up, Desks Apart! Distance and Disjuncture in COVID-19 Restricted Classrooms The Association for Teacher Education in Europe (ATEE), Dublin, .
	2021	White, Irene and McSharry, Majellla (2021) British Educational Research Association (BERA) Conference From Classroom to Zoom Room: Placement Related Challenges and Opportunities for Preservice Teachers Online, .
	2017	White, Irene and Lorenzi, Francesca (2017) Reforming Education and the Imperative of Constant Change: Ambivalent roles of policy and educational research. ECER (European Conference on Educational Research) Meeting in Liminal Spaces: Educational Encounters, Creativity, and Possibility in Post-Primary Education Copenhagen, .
	2016	Irene White (2016) Bullies, Bullied and Bystanders: Advancing Knowledge, Understanding and Practice in Education Empowering youth through voice: The arts as an agent for bullying prevention Dublin City University, .
	2014	Lorenzi, Francesca and White, Irene (2014) The past, present and future of educational research in Europe. ECER (European Conference on Educational Research) Injecting Creativity in the Second Level School Curriculum in Ireland: An Evaluation of the Potential Contribution of Fighting Words University of Porto, Porto, Portugal, 01/09/2014-05/09/2014.
	2014	Lorenzi, Francesca and White Irene (2014) 'The Lives of Art' International Conference on the Arts in Society Fighting Words as a Model of Creative Space: Researching the Physical, Emotional/Social and Critical Dimensions to Recreate the Model in a School Context Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy, 25/06/2014-27/06/2014.
	2013	White, Irene and Gallagher, Fiona (2013) From one world to another: Arts Education for tomorrow. IDEA 2013 8th World Congress of the International Drama/Theatre and Education Association Learning to Play, Playing to Learn: Using drama to support international graduate students' transition to a new culture of learning Paris Diderot University, Paris, France, 08/07/2013-13/07/2013.
	2012	White, Irene and Mallon, Declan (2012) Borders and Translations: Towards new paradigms and languages in drama education. IDiERI (International Drama in Education Research Institute Crossing Borders: Commonalities between drama in education and community engaged participatory theatre practice Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland, 10/07/2012-16/07/2012.
	2012	White, Irene (2012) Borders and Translations: Towards new paradigms and languages in drama education. IDiERI (International Drama in Education Research Institute) Lessons from theatre: The significance of Brecht for drama teaching Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland, 10/07/2012-16/07/2012.

Commissioned Report

	Year	Publication
	2014	Lorenzi, Francesca and White, Irene (2014) Evaluation of the Fighting Words Creative Writing Model. COMMREP [Link]

Published Case Studies

	Year	Publication
	2021	Irene White (2021) Fostering Creativity through the Participatory Arts: A Case Study of the Fighting Words Creative Writing Centre. PUBCS

Thesis

	Year	Publication
	2020	White, Irene (2020) Participatory arts for creativity in education (PACE) model: exploring the participatory arts as a potential model for fostering creativity in post-primary education. THES
	2003	Irene White (2003) Building with Stones: Marie Jones’ Stones in his Pockets in the context of recent developments in Physical Theatre in Ireland. THES

Conference Publication

	Year	Publication
	2023	Gallagher, F., Tiernan, P. and White, I. (2023) Pedagogy fHigher Education Large Classes (PHELC) . In: Ann Marie Farrell and Anna Logan eds. *Group video assessment in higher education large classes: Students’ and educators’ perspectives* Online, 09/06/2023- https://zenodo.org/records/8139359

Blog

	Year	Publication
	2023	Tiernan, P, Gallagher, F. & White, I. (2023) Fostering Creativity in the Classroom – developing a cross-curricular module in ITE. BLOG [Link]

Published Report

	Year	Publication
	2022	McDonald, E., Doyle, A., Fitzsimons, S., & White, I. (2022) Pedagogical Strategies to Support Literacy Development at Post-Primary Level. Department of Education, . [Link]

Other Publication

	Year	Publication
	2024	Hagman, A., Tiilikallio, P., Arsova, I., Lorenzi, F., Corrigan, T., White, I., Ceglar Vidmar, A., Katić Matjašič, S., Hlaj, J., Grintal, B., Seljak, P. and Ferrante, R. (2024) CREATION POP METHODOLOGY Drama based methods for intergenerational group activities. PUBL

Professional Associations

	Association	Function	From / To
	ADEI (Association for Drama in Education in Ireland)	Member	-
	ESAI (Educational Studies Association of Ireland)	Member	-

Honors and Awards

Date	Title	Awarding Body
05/05/2023	President's Awards for Excellence in Teaching Nominee	Dublin City University
01/05/2022	President's Awards for Excellence in Teaching Nominee	Dublin City University
01/01/2021	Shortlisted for the American Educational Research Association (AERA) 2021 Arts and Learning Special Interest Group (A&L SIG) Distinguished Dissertation Award	AERA Arts and Learning Special Interest Group (A&L SIG) Awards Committee
22/02/2019	Elevator Funding IoE Research Support Award	DCU Institute of Education
01/03/2013	HSS Research Travel Award	DCU Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
01/04/2013	President's Awards for Excellence in Teaching Nominee	Dublin City University

Committees

	Committee	Function	From / To
	DCU Institute of Education Faculty Teaching and Learning Committee		23/08/2021 - 30/08/2024
	DCU Connected Development Programme		10/01/2022 -
	DCU Transversal Skills Creative Thinking Expert Panel		01/03/2022 -
	DCU Educational Disadvantage Centre		10/06/2021 -
	National Anti Bullying and Resource Centre		28/10/2015 - 22/01/2021
	School of Educational Studies Research Committee		02/09/2013 - 30/06/2016
	DCU Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Marketing Committee		27/09/2012 - 14/06/2016
	Barbican Management Committee, Drogheda, Co. Louth		01/04/2010 - 31/07/2012

Education

Start date	Institution	Qualification	Subject
01/10/2024	Advance HE	Aurora Leadership Development Programme	Leadership
01/10/2020	DCU and Epigeum	Professional Skills for Research Leaders	Leadership
	DCU	PhD
	Trinity College	Graduate Diploma in Arts
	UCD	Diploma
	Queen's University Belfast	Master of Arts
01/01/2000	NUIM	Higher Diploma in Education	Education
30/11/2000	NUIM	Bachelor of Arts	Bachelor of Arts

Reviews

	Journal	Role
	International Journal of Bullying Prevention	Reviewer
	Journal of Education for Teaching	Reviewer
	Irish Educational Studies	Reviewer

Other Activities

	Description
	DCU Institute of Education Researching Practice, Practising Research 2025-2026. Community Dogs – A New Leash on Learning: Innovative Approaches to Student and Staff Wellbeing in Irish Post-Primary Schools
	DCU Institute of Education Researching Practice, Practising Research 2025-2026. Reimagining ITE Pathways to be Equitable and Future Ready
	DCU IoE Research and Teaching & Learning Day 2024. Piecing it Together: Using the Jigsaw Strategy to Support Students in Group Supervision Research
	DCU IoE Teaching and Learning Day 2023, Staying Connected: Valuing Authenticity in Teaching, Learning and Assessment, Creative Workshop, 'Sin Scéal Eile: Collaborative Storytelling as a Tool for Authentic Learning in Initial Teacher Education'
	DCU IoE Teaching and Learning Day 2022, Creative Workshop, 'A Dramatic Interlude: Pausing to Reconnect, Reflect and Re-energise'.
	DCU Teaching Enhancement Unit, The Sipping Point Conversations, 'Here’s One We Made Earlier: Using Video as a Tool for Assessment'.
	DCU Institute of Education's Research Conversation Series, 'Discussing New Directions in Teacher Education', Panel Discussion
	Assistant Director 'At Peace' (Upstate Theatre Project)
	Stage Manager 'Two Rooms' (Focus Theatre)
	Stage Manager 'Orpheus Descending' (Rathmines Conservatory of Music)
	Assistant Director 'Hades' (Upstate Theatre Project)

Creative Outputs

Year	Title	Type
2021	Fostering Creativity through the Participatory Arts	Recording
2008	Midland: An original dramatic work devised and performed by community participants	Play
2008	Hamlet and The Baker’s Son... and his son: Theatre of the Oppressed and Forum Theatre with Augusto and Julian Boal	Play
2007	Times Hands: A devised theatrical performance combining stylised movement with drama, music and dance	Play

Enterprise Engagement

Year	Engagement Type	Client	Description
2025	Continuous Professional Development/Training	CPD for Post-Primary teachers: DCU Partnership for Learning programme	Supporting EAL Students in Post-Primary Classrooms: Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Teaching and Learning Strategies
2024	Continuous Professional Development/Training	CPD for Post-Primary teachers: DCU Partnership for Learning programme	Supporting EAL Students in Post-Primary Classrooms: Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Teaching and Learning Strategies
2019	Invited talk/presentation	Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development, New York University	'Art for All': Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. A presentation to students and staff from the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development, New York University on the study abroad programme in association with Upstate Theatre Project.
2017	Invited talk/presentation	Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development, New York University	Lesser Heard Voices: A Critical and Historical Analysis of Upstate Theatre Project. A presentation to students and staff from the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development, New York University on the study abroad programme in association with Upstate Theatre Project.
2016	Consultancy	Hibernia College	External Examiner, Professional Diploma in Education, School Placement, Hibernia College, 2012 - 2016.
2012	Consultancy	Smashing Times Theatre and Film Company	Member of Panel of Specialists, Professional Artists and Facilitators

Outreach Activities

Year	Engagement Type	Organisation	Description
2023	Presentations/Talks to an external audience	The Linenhall Arts Centre	Guest speaker at 'Faces From the Frontline', Orla Sloyan Photography Exhibition at The Linenhall Arts Centre, Friday 2 June 2023.
2022	Advisory Work	Teaching Council of Ireland	Researcher in Residence
2022	Advisory Work	Upstate Theatre Project	Chairperson of the Board of Directors
2010	Educational Outreach/Public Engagement	Smashing Times Theatre and Film Company	Acting for Change: Addressing Diversity Through Drama. A participative drama workshop programme to promote anti-racism and anti sectarianism and to create an understanding of identify, diversity and the promotion of equality
2008	Educational Outreach/Public Engagement	Smashing Times Theatre and Film Company	Acting for the Future. An arts project using participative drama workshops and theatre performance to raise awareness of issues surrounding suicide and suicide prevention with adolescents in second-level schools north and south of the border.

Media

	Title	Year	Type	Authors
	Creative Thinking	2024	Other	Transversal Skills Creative Thinking Panel
	Participatory Arts for Creativity in Education	2021	Other	Irene White

Research Interests

Creativity in education, teacher education, teacher identity, drama-based pedagogy, participatory arts and creative activity for health and wellbeing.

Research Projects

Title	Role	Start date	End date
IGNITE (Ildánach & Gaois Network - Initial Teacher Education)	Principal Investigator	01/01/2024	30/06/2024
Creation-Pop: A creative social prescription approach: promoting wellbeing of persons of older age through creativity-based intergenerational activities	Research Partner	01/02/2022	01/08/2024
Pre-service Teachers' Experiences of an Interdisciplinary Module on Creativity and Innovation in Education	Principal Investigator	10/01/2022	01/06/2023
Creative Schools Evaluation	Researcher	02/09/2019	28/01/2023
Engagement with the Professional Master of Education (PME) Programme	Principal Investigator	04/12/2018	04/12/2023
DCU-ASU Cross-Institutional Seed Funding	Principal Investigator	01/05/2025	31/07/2027
The role and impact of community dogs in post primary schools in Ireland.	Principal Investigator	05/05/2025	05/05/2027

Current Postgraduate Students

Student Name	Degree	Supervision
Hamash,Mahmoud	PhD	Supervisor
Gallagher,Emma	PhD	Supervisor
Carroll,Patricia	PhD	Supervisor
Shortall,Claire	PhD-track	Supervisor
Kirwan,Evan	PhD	Supervisor
Gormley,Clare	Doctor of Education	Supervisor

Internal Collaborators

Type	Name	Company	Role
Internal	Dr. Fiona Gallagher	School of Applied Language & Intercultural Studies, DCU	Academic
Internal	Dr. Francesca Lorenzi	School of Policy and Practice, DCU	Academic
Internal	Dr. Majella McSharry	School of Human Development, DCU	Academic
Internal	Dr. Peter Tiernan	School of STEM Education, Innovation & Global Studies, DCU	Academic

Teaching Interests

Creativity in Education, English Education, Drama in Education, Academic Writing and Reading, Research Methods

Modules Coordinated

Term	Title	Module ID
2025	Fostering Creativity & Innovation Digital Media,Drama & Cultural Responsiveness Professonal Practice	EDS1084-A
2025	Academic Writing & Reading	EDU1078-A
2025	Teaching & Learning in English Education	EDS1065-A
2025	Extended Research Project	EDS1079-A