This blog will be updated by a number of people, so this post is a little introduction to who we are and what we do.
Stephen Kennedy
Stephen heads up the Student Support team at NCI. He's been with the college since 2004. His role is to oversee the academic and personal support services for all students. A key part of the position is co-ordinating support for students with disabilities. All services are guided by an overarching mission tjay encourages excellence, celebrates differences, supports success and fosters involvement.
Stephen manages the Student Support function and all related services within the College. He works predominantly with students with disabilities, students from disadvantaged backgrounds, mature students, students with mental health difficulties and students in financial difficulty. Stephen is actively involved in promoting an inclusive learning environment for students from under-represented groups and in developing initiatives and strategies to improve student
transition and retention.
Stephen has been involved in a number of leading initiatives to ensure equitable access for students with disabilities in Higher Education. These initiatives range from developing professional
standards and best practice supports to collaborating on the development of policies and procedures for the inclusion of students with disabilities in Higher Education.
Stephen holds a BA in Psychology from UCD and a Postgraduate Diploma in Education with Trinity College Dublin. Stephen is on the executive committees of DAWN (Disability Advisors Working Network) and CSSI (Confederation of Student Services in Ireland), the baord of AHEAD (Association of Higher Education Access and Disability) and the steering committee for Please Talk.
Corrie Adams
Corrie Adams is the Student Support and Recreation Coordinator at the National College of Ireland. Corrie’s role is to promote and develop an innovative and participative service which provides extracurricular opportunities (Clubs and Societies, Sports and Recreation, Student Leadership Initiatives) for the whole student body, creating a well-rounded college experience.
The Student Support and Recreation Coordinator represents the College on the CUSAI Inter Collegiate Affairs Committee, Secretary of Board of Irish College Societies and is a member of the Peer Mentors Co-ordinators Group.
Going forward the service endeavours to help create a vibrant campus community, with a goal of delivering accessible and inclusive programmes that engages all students through a variety of social, cultural and academic experiences.
Jonathan Lambert
Jonathan Lambert is the Mathematics Support Tutor at the National College of Ireland (NCI) and Jonathan's role involves the development and delivery of a Mathematics Support Service at the NCI.
The role of the Mathematics Support Service is fourfold: first, the service is a complimentary service, scaffolding the learning facilitated by our schools, through the provision of dedicated workshops and tutorials; second, the service is consultative, through representation on programmatic reviews and advising on module development; third, the service is collaborative, contributing and engaging nationally, through conferences and support networks, so as to disseminate best practice throughout the NCI with regard mathematics teaching; fourth, the service is a bridge, facilitating the progression of our incoming students by providing and delivering dedicated modules that cater for our Schools prerequisite needs.
Jonathan's research interests include Teaching and Learning with regard Mathematics Paedogogy and in particular the use of Virtual Learning Environments to augment student learning in Mathematics. Jonathan has recently been awarded a National Academy for Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning (NAIRTL) grant for the "Development of an adaptive tutoring system for a Computing and Business Mathematics module as a way to facilitate self-directed learning through the use of the online VLE Moodle." a project that will come to completion in 2011. Jonathan interests also include the development of robust Mathematics Diagnostic Assessments with a particular focus on student attitudes and values with regard Mathematics.
Michael Goldrick
Learning Support is an Academic Support Service tailored to the specific needs of the entire student body. Mike provides advice and tuition on various academic skills such as learning styles, research and study skills, note-taking, organisational skills, academic writing, time management, oral presentations and exam preparation skills.
In addition to this tuition, Mike works with his colleagues in Student Services on a whole host of specific policies and activities related to the over all student experience. These include ‘orientation’, ‘supporting the transition to Higher Education’, ‘supporting students with disabilities’, ‘improving retention and achievement’ and ‘student support and equality’.
Mike holds a PhD in Education from Dublin City University, a Diploma in Psychotherapy, and a Bsc (Honours) in Psychology. He has previously worked for Dublin City University, where he lectured in ICT.
Mike has published national and international articles and has written for the national press.
Geraldine Feeney
Geraldine Feeney is the Disability Support Officer at the National College of Ireland. Geraldine’s role is to ensure that all students who register with the service can access confidential support, access support that merits their individual needs and have support and assistance available to them. The goal being to allow students to fully participate in NCI’s academic life and social, cultural and sporting experience.
Prior to starting work at NCI, Geraldine worked in the Disability Service in Southport College, Merseyside, for 5 years. Geraldine’s area of particular expertise includes supporting students with Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Asperger’s Syndrome and ADD/ADHD. Geraldine holds a PGCE in Adult Dyslexia Diagnosis & Support (Masters level) and also a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (literacy specialism).
