President's Awards for Excellence in Teaching Winners and Nominees 2026
Excellence in Teaching Award Winners 2026, with Professor Daire Keogh and Dr Martina Crehan, TEU
On May 21st, we celebrated the 2026 President’s Awards for Excellence in Teaching, and it truly was a celebration of inspiring educational practice across Dublin City University. Many congratulations to the recipients of awards in the categories below.
In his opening address Professor Daire Keogh mentioned the importance of connection and connectivity in our educational practice, and this is certainly exemplified in the practice of all of our nominees in their work of connecting students not only to their disciplines and their future professional practice but also in establishing communities of care and personal connection.
We also congratulate all those who were nominated and thanks to all those who attended the event and contributed to a wonderfully positive atmosphere.
Teaching Support Category Winner
Teaching Support Category Winner, Emma Stapleton
The Teaching Support award, which recognises those who make an outstanding contribution to the support of teaching without being ‘frontline’ teaching staff, was awarded to Emma Stapleton, DCU Library.
I can see the difference that Emma's teaching is making in the assignments that I receive ….the first thing I do when organising these modules is check Emma's availability and book her in!
Her tailored classes on database searching, reference management, and critical use of sources have transformed how our students approach assignments and evidence-based practice.
New Lecturer Category Winner
New Lecturer Category Winner, Emma Farragher
The New Lecturer Category recognises relatively new lecturers and tutors for achieving excellence in teaching. This award was presented to Emma Farragher, School of Language, Literacy & Early Childhood Education.
Emma is the epitome of everything we value in DCU. She is empathetic to her students and her colleagues. She has gone above and beyond in digging colleagues out of holes when they need additional support. Her creative ideas for practice inspire not only her students, but her fellow colleagues.
Emma's passion for her work is infectious!
Team Teaching Award Category Winners
Team Teaching Award Winners: Professional Doctorate and MSc in Elite Performance (Sport) Teaching Team, represented by Robin Taylor and Professor Daire Keogh
In the Team Category, which provides an opportunity to recognise core staff teams that provide an exceptional, innovative, or transformational contribution to the student experience, the award went to the Professional Doctorate and MSc in Elite Performance (Sport) Teaching Team, Áine McNamara, Robin Taylor, Stephen Behan, Jamie Taylor and Rosie Collins.
The teaching team employs a range of innovative pedagogical approaches, including scenario-based learning, applied case studies, and real-world simulations, particularly within their CPD modules delivered in partnership with sporting organisations.
The teaching team has also been at the forefront of leveraging customised AI-supported learning tools, particularly within research methods teaching.
Distinctive Approaches to Innovation in Teaching Award Winner
Distinctive Approaches to Teaching Winner, Neil O'Boyle, School of Communications
Neil O'Boyle, School of Communications received the ‘Distinctive Approaches to Innovation in Teaching’ award.
His lectures introduce contemporary theory and industry-relevant practice while stimulating creativity and debate. Students are encouraged to engage with concepts individually before challenging and refining them in group discussion, fostering intellectual confidence and collaborative analysis.
He further brings the subject to life through live online calls and in-person interviews with graduates …. helping students to see tangible career pathways.
Distinctive Approaches to Assessment & Feedback
Distinctive Approaches to Innovation in Assessment Award Winner Darren Clarke, School of History and Geography.
Darren Clarke, School of History & Geography received the 'Distinctive Approaches to Assessment and Feedback' award.
Darren uses a range of assessment formats across his modules. These include reflective journals, research projects, group work, peer assessment and interactive oral assessments.
Instead of relying on traditional examinations, these approaches are designed to encourage critical thinking, collaboration and the development of DCU’s transversal skills.
Overall Academic Award
Overall Academic Award Winner Yalemisew Abgaz, with Professor Daire Keogh
This category recognises all the nominees who have excelled in their teaching and practice at DCU and was presented to Yalemisew Abgaz, School of Computing.
Yalemisew’s Data Literacy and Analytics module benefited the university on an unprecedented scale. Each year, the module is delivered to more than 2,000 students.
Through co-creation, students develop, critique, and refine formative assessment items, promoting metacognition, peer learning, and deeper conceptual understanding.
Shortlisted Nominees 2026
We also congratulate all those who were nominated and shortlisted.
Teaching Support Award Shortlisted Nominees
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Eugene Curran |
School of Computing Technical Support Group (TSG) |
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Nuala Lonergan |
DCU Business School |
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Luke Quinlan |
School of Law and Government |
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Emma Stapleton |
DCU Library |
New Lecturer Award Shortlisted Nominees
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Vishwas Dohale |
DCU Business School |
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Emma Farragher |
School of Language, Literacy & Early Childhood Education |
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Colm Kearns |
School of Communications |
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Michael Metzger |
DCU Business School |
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Ellen Rushe |
School of Computing |
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Allie Tran |
School of Computing |
|
Lu Xu |
DCU Business School |
Team Teaching Award Shortlisted Nominees
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Clinical Education Centre Team; Karyn Brady, Annie Matthews, Yetunde Folaranmi, Michelle Gibbons, Adele Keough, Anna Kimmins, Justin Dawson, Patrick Doyle |
School of Nursing, Psychotherapy & Community Health |
|
M.A. in Choral Studies Teaching Team; Róisín Blunnie, Seán Doherty, Patricia Flynn |
School of Theology, Philosophy, and Music |
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The PICO Team; Audrey Doyle, Sarah O'Grady, Marie Conroy Johnson |
School of Policy and Practice and School of Languages, Literacy and Early Childhood Education |
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The Digital Learning (Primary) Team; Margaret Leahy, |
School of STEM Education, Innovation and Global Studies |
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The Irish language tutors (teagascóirí); Joe Padhraic Ó Fátharta, James Ó Flatharta, Carla Ní Raghallaigh, Aimée Ní Bheirn, Shauna Ní Dhochartaigh, Honoria Ní Mháille, Ciara Smith |
Fiontar agus Scoil na Gaeilge |
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Professional Doctorate and MSc in Elite Performance (Sport) Teaching Team; Áine MacNamara, Robin Taylor, Rosie Collins, Jamie Taylor, Stephen Behan |
School of Health and Human Performance |
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Authentic Assessment Design Project; Ann Marie Farrell, Christina Hannify, Hadjer Taibi, Rob Lowney |
Inclusive and Special Education/Centre for Equality Evaluation & Inspection/Teaching Enhancement Unit |
|
Transdisciplinary Challenge-Based Learning Hackathon; Liang Xu, Stephen R. Power, Karsten Fleischer, Emma Coyle |
School of Physical Sciences, School of Computing and School of Chemical Sciences |
Overall Academic Award Shortlisted Nominees
|
Yalemisew Abgaz |
School of Computing |
|
Stephen Behan |
School of Health and Human Performance |
|
Sheila Castilho |
School of Applied Language & Intercultural Studies |
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Darren Clarke |
School of History and Geography |
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Damien Dupre |
DCU Business School |
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Anne Marie Kavanagh |
School of Human Development |
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Marcia Kirwan |
School of Nursing, Psychotherapy & Community Health |
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Angela Leahy |
School of Applied Language & Intercultural Studies |
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Elena Lopez |
School of Applied Language & Intercultural Studies |
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Donnacha Lowney |
School of Electronic Engineering |
|
Enda McGlynn |
School of Physical Sciences |
|
Aine McNamara |
School of Health and Human Performance |
|
Celeste McNamara |
School of History and Geography |
|
Emer Ní Bhrádaigh |
Fiontar agus Scoil na Gaeilge |
|
Neil O’Boyle |
School of Communications |
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Joe Usher |
School of STEM Education, Innovation and Global Studies |
|
Dawn Wheatley |
School of Communications |