Academic Staff

Maria Kenneally

Lecturer

Tel: +353 1 2207429

Discipline: Global Business

Current role & Experience

Mindfulness lecturer, researcher and co-director of The Mindfulness Project in the School of Global Business.

This involves the design and delivery of mindfulness interventions for staff and students in the School of Global Business, and the researching of any impact on participants. It also involves the integration of mindfulness-based pedagogy in TLA within the School, with particular emphasis on reflective practices, sustainability, and the development of graduate attributes.

Spanish lecturer on the International Business Degree in the School of Global Business.

As a Spanish lecturer on the L7 and L8 International Business Degree Courses I act as programme coordinator and year 4 tutor, teach approved syllabi, review existing syllabi under programmatic review and design new syllabi, conduct research, collaborate with colleagues at home and on the Erasmus Programme, and coordinate extra-curricular language and culture celebrations.

Teaching & Supervision

Teaching

2017-Present: Mindfulness lecturer & researcher, School of Global Business, TU Dublin

2017-Present: Mindfulness coordinator at the Centre for Psychology, Education & Emotional Intelligence (PEEI), TU Dublin

2001-Present: Language lecturer (Spanish, French, English for Academic Purposes), School of Global Business, TU Dublin

2001-Present: Drama-in-Education lecturer (role-playing in business contexts, Boal’s Theatre of the Oppressed to explore inequality & sustainability, creative arts for connection & teambuilding in Sports & Community Development), TU Dublin

2001-2010: Media Studies lecturer, TU Dublin

External examining

2006-2009: Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, external examiner of Spanish

2009-2012: Athlone Institute of Technology, external examiner of Spanish

2012-2014: Athlone Institute of Technology, external examiner of Creative Arts Education

Research

My research interests are in Mindfulness and Contemplative Pedagogy, and I am currently studying for a PhD at Technological University Dublin. The title of my PhD thesis is ‘Can Mindfulness in Higher Education Enhance Student Employability.’

Books/ Chapters in Books:

Kenneally, M. (2012) ‘The Role and Value of Drama-in-Education for Students in the Caring Professions’ in Lyons, D. ed. Creative Studies for the Caring Professions, Dublin: Gill & Macmillan.

Kenneally, M. (2003) ‘Multiliculturalism in Secondary School – a Linguistic, and Socio-Political & Pedagogic Perspective’, ITB Journal, 4, (2), p. 30-46.

Journal Publications/ Conference Proceedings/Papers:

Kenneally, M. 2022. Exploring the Evidence Base Underpinning Mindfulness in Education Interventions. Weaving Mindfulness into the Curriculum, May 14th 2023, Mindfulness Teachers Association of Ireland, online.

Kenneally, M. 2022. Can Mindfulness Help Me Be At HE? - The School of Global Business, TU Dublin Mindfulness Project. The 1st National Workshop on Mindful Computing, November 3rd 2022, Maynooth University.

Kenneally, M. 2019. Can Mindfulness Help Me Be At HE? International Conference for Engaging Pedagogy, December 13th 2019, University of Limerick.

Kenneally, M. 2018. The Role of Mindfulness in the Holistic Education of Young People. Educational Studies Association of Ireland Conference, April 7th 2018, University College Dublin.

Kenneally, M. 2012. Theatre to Empower – Exploring Issues of Sustainability & Interconnectedness. Social Care Ireland Conference, May 3rd 2012. Carlow IT.

Professional Experience

September 2016 – Present: Fingal Arts Council, Dublin

Drama, Mindfulness and Movement teacher for adults with special needs in Dublin 15.

December 2016 – September 2017: Kildare County Council

Creative Arts facilitator delivering literacy workshops to young children in Kildare libraries.

June 2000 – June 2001: Camden Local Education Authority, London, England

Creative Arts and Modern Foreign Language Advisor offering workshops to secondary school teachers on the incorporation of arts-based education in the TLA of various discipline.

Qualifications  

Postgraduate Diploma in Drama-in-Education from Trinity College Dublin (2007-2009)

Postgraduate Certificate in Education from Institute of Education, University of London (1997-1998)

Masters in Politics & Society from Institute of Latin American Studies, University of London (1996-1997)

BA (Hons) in French & Spanish from Trinity College Dublin (1991-1996)

Research Underpinning the Programme  

Maria Kenneally is a language lecturer specialising in Spanish & French, with experience in creative arts education and mindfulness pedagogy. Her research in mindfulness and education interventions informs her teaching. She focuses on using mindfulness as a pedagogical tool to improve well-being and sustainable teaching practices in higher education.

Her current research interests include mindfulness in education, contemplative pedagogy, and teaching practices that enhance student well-being.

Publications: 

Chalmers, W., Carthy, A., Kenneally, M., et al. (2023). ‘An Analysis of the Impact of an Online Mindfulness-based Intervention as a Support for First-year University Students’, AISHE-J, 15, (2), p. 1-25.

Kenneally, M. (2022). Exploring the Evidence Base Underpinning Mindfulness in Education Interventions. Weaving Mindfulness into the Curriculum, Mindfulness Teachers Association of Ireland, online.

Kenneally, M. (2022). Can Mindfulness Help Me Be At HE? - The School of Global Business, TU Dublin Mindfulness Project. The 1st National Workshop on Mindful Computing, Maynooth University.

Kenneally, M. (2019). Can Mindfulness Help Me Be At HE? International Conference for Engaging Pedagogy, University of Limerick.

Kenneally, M. (2012). ‘The Role and Value of Drama-in-Education for Students in the Caring Professions’ in Lyons, D. ed. Creative Studies for the Caring Professions, Dublin: Gill & Macmillan.

Research Interests: 

Mindfulness and Contemplative Pedagogy

Mindfulness in Higher Education

Well-being and Sustainable Teaching Practices

Scholarship Underpinning the Programme  

Ms. Kenneally’s teaching practice integrates both language education and creative arts. She has developed and delivered mindfulness-based interventions for students and staff at TU Dublin. Her focus is on the integration of mindfulness to promote student well-being, sustainable teaching practices, and enhanced learning experiences.

Maria’s background in drama-in-education also informs her creative approach to teaching, where she combines language learning with the creative arts.

Ms. Kenneally teaches on the International Business program at TU Dublin.

She has been involved in the design and delivery of language syllabi (Spanish & French), the promotion of extracurricular events like the International Day of Languages, and the coordination of language programs.

Programme Chair for the International Business program at TU Dublin’s School of Global Business.

Industry and Profession, Civic and Community Engagement, Staff Development 

Community Engagement: Maria has been actively involved in the creative arts and mindfulness in community and educational settings.

Creative Arts Facilitator for Kildare County Council (2016-2017), where she delivered literacy through creative arts workshops for children in Kildare libraries.

Designed and delivered drama & movement workshops for adults with special educational needs through Fingal Arts Council (2015-2019).

Advisory Role: As a member of the Creative Arts & Modern Foreign Languages Advisory Working Group with Camden Local Education Authority London, she helped incorporate creative arts in language learning, teaching, and assessment in secondary schools.

Professional Development: 

Ms. Kenneally is an active member of professional associations related to mindfulness and drama education, including the European Association of Mindfulness Based Approaches (EAMBA) and the Mindfulness Teachers Association of Ireland (MTAI).