As the founding Programme Director of the MSc in Public Relations & Strategic Communications (MScPR), I led a small, tightly knit team of enthusiastic, talented and dedicated lecturers. All of the teaching team have significant professional communications experience and most continue their professional practice alongside their teaching.

I’ve taught Public Relations at DCU for almost 30 years, during which time I watched the increasing use of strategic communication impact on Public Relations, organisations and society. Supported by the Public Relations Institute of Ireland (PRII), we established the MScPR in 2016 as a response to this emphasis on strategic communications.

My background in communications, journalism and performance brings a particular perspective to the study of strategic communications, which is then refreshed, enhanced and challenged by my MScPR colleagues. The diversity of each cohort of MScPR students – in terms of age, experience and academic background – keeps the programme fresh and prompts us to continually review, reflect and revise the programme.

To contrast my Public Relations teaching, I am a puppeteer in another life. I bring this experience to academia through my published research on the history of the puppet theatre in Ireland.

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