I am currently Head of School of Applied Social Studies at UCC and a Professor in Social Work.

My research is interdisciplinary and addresses interventions to support healthy ageing and wellbeing throughout the life course. Recent projects have particularly focused on technology and loneliness.  Current projects seek to enhance participatory approaches to address social challenges such as ageism, social exclusion and loneliness, digital exclusion and educational opportunities in later life. This thematic work has includes participatory projects: SMILE (IRC 2023/24), and AgeACTED (IRC 2022). I am also a partner on AliVe, funded under Erasmus+ (2023/2026), which uses participatory methodologies to identify and address barriers to age-inclusive lifelong learning. I am on the leadership group and Gender Equality Coordinator of the European Action CA22167 - COST Participatory Approaches with Older Adults (2023/2027). I am a Funded Investigator at the Taighde Éireann Research Centre for Future Networks and Communications CONNECT Centre working to develop inclusive innovation for people with lived experience of intellectual disability - Rights Enabled by Design [RED]. I supervise doctoral research at UCC and the Taighde Éireann Centre for Research Training in Advanced Networks for Sustainable Societies ADVANCE CRT. I contribute to public policy development in Ireland and the UK including the What Works Centre for Wellbeing.

In my role as Head of School, I aim to enhance access to Higher Education for all through development of new pathways to programmes in the School including apprenticeships, tertiary degree routes, continuing education pathways and through enhancing students' digital educational experiences. 

I am a registered social worker (CORU SW005720) who completed DPhil and MPhil degrees at University of Oxford and a BSocSc and MSW from UCC.