Dr David Kennedy (BA, MA, Ph.D., SFHEA), Assistant Professor of Religious Education, joined the School of Human Development, Institute of Education, Dublin City University in 2019. David is also a teaching and research associate at the Mater Dei Centre for Catholic Education, Institute of Education, Dublin City University. Prior to join DCU, from 2013-2015, he was a member of the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies at Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick where he worked as a researcher and departmental assistant teaching in systematic, biblical and sacramental theology. From 2015-2019, David worked as a researcher for national bodies in Catholic education, namely: the Catholic Schools Partnership (CSP - now known as the Catholic Education Partnership [CEP]); the Association of Trustees of Catholic Schools (ATCS - now know as the Association of Patrons and Trustees of Catholic Schools [APTCS]); the Catholic Primary School Management Association (CPSMA); and the Irish Episcopal Conference (IECON). From 2016-2019, he lectured and supervised research on the Professional Masters in Education (Primary) programme and the Certificate in Catholic Religious Studies programme at Hibernia College. From 2016-2019, David also lectured (part-time) on the Bachelor of Religious Education (Post-Primary/BrelED). From 2015-2019, he was appointed as lead coordinator and resource writer for Catholic School Week. In 2018, David worked as a theological researcher; catechetical resource writer; and national coordinator for Catholic schools (primary/post-primary) for the World Meeting of Families 2018 and the papal visit of Pope Francis to Ireland.

From 2020-2024, David was Programme Chair of the Certificate in Religious Studies (Part-time) programme and the Catholic Certificate in Religious Studies Supplementary at Dublin City University. He currently lectures and supervises research across a number of programmes at the Institute of Education, Dublin City University, namely; Bachelor of Education (Primary) programme; the Certificate in Religious Studies (Full-Time) programme; the Certificate in Religious Studies (Part-Time) programme; the Certificate in Catholic Religious Studies Supplementary programme; Bachelor of Religious Education (Post-Primary/BrelED); and the MA in Chaplaincy Studies and Pastoral Work. In 2021, David received the DCU President's Award for Excellence in Teaching (Distinctive Approaches to Teaching) in recognition of his successful, effective and innovative teaching and learning practices. In recognition of the demonstrable impact and influence that David's professional teaching practice has on colleagues both nationally and internationally as well as his effective approaches to the support of high quality student learning, David achieved the status of Senior Fellow with the Higher Education Authority in accordance with the UK Professional Standards for Teaching and Learning Support in Higher Education in 2021. David is also the creator, producer, and host of the podcast series, Conversations from the Classroom with Dr David Kennedy produced in association with DCU, Mater Dei Centre for Catholic Education. David’s research interests and publications come from a broad range of disciplines including systematic and philosophical theology, philosophy, religious education, educational studies as well as management, leadership, and governance in education. David is currently working on a monograph with Routledge titled 'A Hermeneutics of Religious Education for a Post-Secular Age: Exploring the Possibility of Truth' that will be published in the 'Routledge International Studies in the Philosophy of Education' series in early 2026.