Named in honour of Professor Dermot McAleese, former Whately Professor of Political Economy and a much-loved teacher, the awards were established in 2012 with the support of graduates of the School. Professor McAleese and his family have since provided generous ongoing support to ensure the awards continue for many years to come.
Each year, four Teaching Assistants are selected for their exceptional work in the classroom, with awards of €500 and a commemorative medal presented to one recipient from each discipline.
In Economics, PhD student Aishwarya Deshpande won the Dermot McAleese Award for her contribution to the teaching of the module Intermediate Economics A & B.
Deshpande's research focuses on how low-income individuals make economic decisions.