Dr. Mary Kelly

Dr. Mary Kelly is Academic Dean of Hibernia College and a member of the College’s Executive Management Team. Dr Kelly has been a driving force in the strategic direction of research initiatives and innovation in academic development since she joined Hibernia College in 2012.

Most recently serving as Head of the School of Education, Dr Kelly provided academic leadership for the School of Education’s suite of programmes, including the Professional Master of Education (PME) in Primary Education, Professional Master of Education (PME) in Post-Primary Education, Bachelor of Education (Honours) in Early Childhood Education and the Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programme.

Having graduated from St. Patrick’s College Drumcondra, Mary began her career as a primary school teacher and taught at all class levels in Ireland and internationally. She worked as Deputy National Co-ordinator of the Primary Curriculum Support Programme with specific responsibility for the implementation of numeracy and literacy programmes under the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) initiative.  

Mary’s research interests include practitioner research, early childhood education and teacher education.