Dr. Niamh Deignan

Biography

Dr. Niamh Deignan is an Assistant Professor in Educational Leadership and Policy at the School of Education, Trinity College Dublin. She leads the design and coordination of modules on the Master"s in Education (M.Ed.) Leadership and Policy pathway. Prior to this role, she lectured at the University of Galway, where she contributed significantly to the Professional Master of Education programme as a module leader, supervisor, and school placement tutor. She also served as the University of Galway coordinator for the Postgraduate Diploma in School Leadership - a jointly awarded programme with the University of Limerick and University College Dublin. Niamh began her career as a post-primary teacher and school counsellor, experiences that continue to shape her teaching and research in educational leadership. She subsequently completed her PhD in Educational Leadership, focusing on mentoring in and for leadership in education. Alongside her academic work, she has contributed to European-funded projects on cultural responsivity in education, with a particular focus on data analysis and project evaluation. Niamh regularly presents her research at national and international conferences in areas related to educational leadership and leadership preparation. She is actively involved in international collaborations, including the World School Leadership Study, due for completion in 2025.