2025 Dermot McAleese Teaching Assistant Awards

Posted on: 26 May 2025

The School of Social Sciences and Philosophy hosted the fourteenth annual Dermot McAleese Teaching Assistant Awards on Thursday, 22 May, recognising outstanding contributions to undergraduate teaching across the disciplines of Economics, Philosophy, Political Science, and Sociology.

Established in 2012 with the support of Professor Dermot McAleese, former Whately Professor of Political Economy and a much-loved teacher, the awards highlight the vital role that Teaching Assistants play in enhancing the student learning experience. Four prizes of €500 and a medal are awarded annually, with recipients selected based on their creativity, organisation, responsiveness to students, and ability to inspire critical thinking.

Prof. Martine Smith, Dean of Graduate Studies; Prof. Paul O'Grady, Head of School; Susannah McAleese; Camilla McAleese; Prof. John O'Hagan. Bottom Row- Enda Russell, Rodolfo Pezzi

This year’s winners are:

• Aishwarya Deshpande (Economics) A second-year PhD student, Aishwarya’s research lies at the intersection of development and behavioural economics, with a focus on how low-income individuals make economic decisions. She hopes to pursue an academic career combining teaching and research. Module: Intermediate Economics A & B | Nominated by Professors Francis O’Toole and Davide Romelli

• Enda Russell (Philosophy) Enda is a PhD candidate in metaphysics under the supervision of Professor John Divers. His research examines how modal concepts—like possibility and necessity—are used in the natural sciences, arguing for a non-metaphysical account of modality. Module: Topics in Philosophy II A | Nominated by Dr Farbod Akhlaghi

• Sofia Jesus (Political Science) Sofia is a second-year PhD candidate whose work explores how social identity influences attitudes towards welfare. Her research addresses inequality, welfare stigma, and intergroup dynamics, and she aims to continue working in academia. Module: Introduction to Political Science A | Nominated by Dr Ross Gildea
• Rodolfo Pezzi (Sociology) Rodolfo’s PhD research investigates how structural inequalities affect children’s cognitive development, mental health, and education. Drawing on data from Ireland, Germany, and England, he focuses on key transitions in young people’s lives. Module: Inequality in the 21st Century | Nominated by Professor Yekaterina Chzhen

In addition to the winners, a number of outstanding Teaching Assistants were nominated across the four disciplines. Each received a certificate in recognition of their contributions to teaching.

• Economics: Aishwarya Deshpande
• Philosophy: Mackenzie Batista
• Political Science: Lucas Paolo da Silva, Jack O’Neill Lily Rice and Louisa Barry
• Sociology: Mide Power

The School has extended its sincere thanks to Professor McAleese and his family, Camilla, Susannah, and Emma, for their continued support, which ensures the awards will continue to celebrate excellence in teaching for years to come.

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