Biography

 Vanessa Rutherford (PhD, MA, BA, National University of Ireland Maynooth) is a Faculty Member in the School of Education, University College Cork. Previous appointments include Lecturer and Tutor (BA History, BA Local and Community Studies) at NUI Maynooth; Associate Lecturer (MA History) at The Open University; Lecturer (BA History) at Dublin City University; Lecturer and Tutor (Diploma in the Psychology of Adolescent Development), Centre for Adult Continuing Education and Department of Applied Psychology, UCC and Research Associate (Centre for Applied Social Studies), NUI Maynooth. Vanessa has published book chapters and journal articles on the social and cultural history of children and childhood in Ireland, gender and power in Irish history, the history of education in Ireland and, teacher and student identity and learning (19th century, 20th century and Contemporary). Methodologically, her work engages with discourse analysis and historical inquiry that extends to quantitative research. A major focus of her research is bringing an historical awareness to current educational thought and practice.   

     

Research Interests

Research interests focus on the social and cultural history of children and childhood in Ireland, gender and power in Irish history, the history of education in Ireland and, teacher and student identity and learning (19th century, 20th century and Contemporary).

Contract Researchers

  Researcher Name Project Role Funding Body
Vanessa Rutherford Changing contexts in becoming a ‘good’ teacher: The Learning to Teach Study 2. Postdoctoral Researcher Irish Research Council
Vanessa Rutherford Facilitating a High Quality Student Experience: finessing approaches Co Principal Investigator Other: Not Listed
Vanessa Rutherford George Boole and Education Research Fellow Other: Not Listed
Vanessa Rutherford History of the School of Education, UCC Research Fellow Other: Not Listed

Books

  Year Publication
(2014) Networks of Mind: Learning, Culture, Neuroscience.
Hall, K., Curtin, A. and Rutherford, V. (2014) Networks of Mind: Learning, Culture, Neuroscience. London: Routledge. [Details]
(2013) Networks of mind: Learning culture, neuroscience.
Hall K.;Curtin A.;Rutherford V. (2013) Networks of mind: Learning culture, neuroscience. [DOI] [Details]

Book Chapters

  Year Publication
(2018) 'Toys, Material Culture and Play Space in Ireland: The Iveagh Trust Play Centre'
Vanessa Rutherford (2018) 'Toys, Material Culture and Play Space in Ireland: The Iveagh Trust Play Centre' In: Ciara Boylan, Ciara Gallagher (eds). Constructions of the Irish Child in the Independence Period, 1910-1940. Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan. [Details]
(2018) 'Toys, Material Culture and Play Space in Ireland: The Iveagh Trust Play Centre'
Rutherford, V (2018) 'Toys, Material Culture and Play Space in Ireland: The Iveagh Trust Play Centre' In: CONSTRUCTIONS OF THE IRISH CHILD IN THE INDEPENDENCE PERIOD, 1910-1940. BASINGSTOKE: PALGRAVE. [DOI] [Details]
(2017) 'Nostalgic panoramas of childhood: Toy objects in Ireland, 1851-1909'
Rutherford V. (2017) 'Nostalgic panoramas of childhood: Toy objects in Ireland, 1851-1909' In: Reinventing Childhood Nostalgia: Books, Toys, and Contemporary Media Culture. [DOI] [Details]
(2015) 'Regulating Poor Mothers: St. Ultan’s Infant Hospital, Dublin from 1918'
Rutherford, V. (2015) 'Regulating Poor Mothers: St. Ultan’s Infant Hospital, Dublin from 1918' In: Christina Brophy and Cara Delay (eds). Women, Reform, and Resistance in Ireland, 1850-1950: Ordinary and Outcast. US, UK: Palgrave Macmillan. [Details]
(2015) 'Regulating Poor Mothers: St. Ultan's Infant Hospital, Dublin, from 1918'
Vanessa Rutherford (2015) 'Regulating Poor Mothers: St. Ultan's Infant Hospital, Dublin, from 1918' In: Christina S. Brophy, Cara Delay (eds). Women, Reform, and Resistance in Ireland, 1850–1950. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. [Details]
(2014) '‘Learningplace’ practices and Pre-service Teacher Education in Ireland: Knowledge generation, partnerships and pedagogy. Workplace Learning in Teacher Education: International Practice and Policy'
Conway, P. F., Murphy, R. and Rutherford, V. (2014) '‘Learningplace’ practices and Pre-service Teacher Education in Ireland: Knowledge generation, partnerships and pedagogy. Workplace Learning in Teacher Education: International Practice and Policy' In: Workplace Learning in Teacher Education: International Practice and PolicyWorkplace Learning in Teacher Education: International Practice and Policy. AmsterdamAmsterdam: Springer/VerlagSpringer/Verlag. [Details]
(2014) '‘Learningplace’ practices and pre-service teacher education in Ireland: Knowledge generation, partnerships and pedagogy'
Conway P.;Murphy R.;Rutherford V. (2014) '‘Learningplace’ practices and pre-service teacher education in Ireland: Knowledge generation, partnerships and pedagogy' In: Workplace Learning in Teacher Education: International Practice and Policy. [DOI] [Details]
(2015) 'Technologies of Gender and Girlhood: Doll Discourses in Ireland, 1801–1909'
Rutherford, V. (2015) 'Technologies of Gender and Girlhood: Doll Discourses in Ireland, 1801–1909' In: Forman-Brunell, M (eds). Dolls Studies: The Meanings of Girls’ Toys and Play. USA: Peter Lang. [Details]
(2016) 'Muscles and Morals: children’s playground culture in Ireland in the Long Nineteenth Century'
Rutherford, V (2016) 'Muscles and Morals: children’s playground culture in Ireland in the Long Nineteenth Century' In: Lane, L. and Murphy, W (eds). Leisure and the Irish in the Nineteenth Century. Liverpool: Liverpool University Press. [Details]
(2014) 'Technologies of Power: school discourse in late nineteenth-century Ireland'
Rutherford, V. (2014) 'Technologies of Power: school discourse in late nineteenth-century Ireland' In: The child savage, 1890-2010: from comics to games. Farnham: Ashgate. [Details]
(2018) 'Nostalgic Panoramas of Childhood: Toy Objects in Ireland, 1851-1909'
Rutherford, V. (2018) 'Nostalgic Panoramas of Childhood: Toy Objects in Ireland, 1851-1909' In: Elisabeth Wesseling (eds). Reinventing Childhood Nostalgia: Books,Toys and Contemporary Media Culture. Farnham: Routledge. [Details]
(2014) '‘Learningplace’ practices and Pre-service Teacher Education in Ireland: Knowledge generation, partnerships and pedagogy'
Conway, P. F., Murphy, R. and Rutherford, V. (2014) '‘Learningplace’ practices and Pre-service Teacher Education in Ireland: Knowledge generation, partnerships and pedagogy' In: O. McNamara, J. Murray, M. Jones (eds). Workplace Learning in Teacher Education: International Practice and Policy. Amsterdam: Springer/Verlag. [DOI] [Details]

Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
(2018) 'Girls and the Formation of Modern Ireland'
Vanessa Rutherford (2018) 'Girls and the Formation of Modern Ireland'. International Journal of Early Childhood, 11:1, 38-55 (1) [DOI] [Details]
(2015) 'Looking like a teacher: fashioning an embodied identity through dressage'
Rutherford, V;Conway, PF;Murphy, R (2015) 'Looking like a teacher: fashioning an embodied identity through dressage'. Teaching Education, 26 :325-339 [DOI] [Details]
(2014) 'Looking like a Teacher: fashioning an embodied identity through dressage'
Rutherford, V., Conway, P. F., Murphy, R. (2014) 'Looking like a Teacher: fashioning an embodied identity through dressage'. Teaching Education, [Details]

Conference Publications

  Year Publication
(2025) 3rd International Conference of the journal “Scuola Democratica” Education and/for Social Justice UNIVERSITY OF CAGLIARI, ITALY
Vanessa Rutherford (2025) Girl-to-Girl Bullying in Irish Schools: a call to intra-action & response-ability 3rd International Conference of the journal “Scuola Democratica” Education and/for Social Justice UNIVERSITY OF CAGLIARI, ITALY - 30-JUN-25 [Details]
(2016) CHILD SAVAGE, 1890-2010: FROM COMICS TO GAMES
Rutherford, V (2016) Technologies of Power: School Discourse in Late Nineteenth-century Ireland CHILD SAVAGE, 1890-2010: FROM COMICS TO GAMES , pp.23-38 [Details]
(2015) EUROPEAN HIGHER EDUCATION AREA: BETWEEN CRITICAL REFLECTIONS AND FUTURE POLICIES, PTS 1-2
Rutherford, V;Pickup, I (2015) Negotiating Liminality in Higher Education: Formal and Informal Dimensions of the Student Experience as Facilitators of Quality EUROPEAN HIGHER EDUCATION AREA: BETWEEN CRITICAL REFLECTIONS AND FUTURE POLICIES, PTS 1-2 , pp.703-723 [DOI] [Details]
(2012) Trends in Mathematics Education Conference
Rutherford, V. (2012) ‘The enduring legacy of George Boole, 1815-1864: first professor of mathematics at UCC’ . In: P. Conway, V. Rutherford, M. Delargey eds. Trends in Mathematics Education Conference UCC, , 26-NOV-12 - 30-NOV-12 [Details]

Published Reports

  Year Publication
(2018) School Placement in Initial Teacher Education.
Kathy Hall, Regina Murphy, Vanessa Rutherford, Bernadette Ni Aingleis (2018) School Placement in Initial Teacher Education. The Teaching Council, Maynooth. [Details]
(2013) Changing contexts in becoming a ‘good’ teacher: The Learning to Teach Study 2.
Conway, P. F., Rutherford, V., & Murphy, R (2013) Changing contexts in becoming a ‘good’ teacher: The Learning to Teach Study 2. School of Education, Cork. [Details]

Abstract

  Year Publication
(2022) Education Professionals' Knowledge and Experience of Students With Childhood Acquired Brain Injury-Emerging Data From a PhD Study in Ireland.
Carey, A;Adamakis, M;Rutherford, V (2022) Education Professionals' Knowledge and Experience of Students With Childhood Acquired Brain Injury-Emerging Data From a PhD Study in Ireland. PHILADELPHIA: Abstract [Details]

Annotations/Encodings

  Year Publication
(2013) The Wilson Doll House.
Rutherford, V. (2013) The Wilson Doll House. Annotations/Encodings [Details]

Professional Associations

  Association Function From / To
Society for the Study of Nineteenth Century Ireland Member /
CYP Cluster, UCC Member /
The Society for the History of Children and Youth Member /
Educational Studies Association of Ireland Member /
The Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland Member 22-NOV-04 /

Conference Contributions

  Year Publication
(2024) Educational Studies Association of Ireland Annual Conference,
4. Harrington, F., Ní Ríordáin, M., & Rutherford, V. (2024) Collaborative Learning or Consensus by Committee? An examination of the conceptual tensions expressed by Pre-Service Post-Primary teachers engaged in Collaborative Learning. [Oral Presentation], Educational Studies Association of Ireland Annual Conference, Maynooth, Ireland , 04-APR-24 - 06-JUL-24. [Details]
(2015) 21st Annual Conference of the Society for the Study of Nineteenth-Century Ireland,
V. Rutherford (2015) Timbre and Overtones. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], 21st Annual Conference of the Society for the Study of Nineteenth-Century Ireland, NUIG , 11-JUN-15 - 12-JUN-15. [Details]
(2015) Learner Voice Conference of Inclusion in Education and Society Group TCD,
Murphy, B. Conway, P.F., Curtin, A. Rutherford, V. & Murphy, R. (2015) Changing experiences and understandings of literacy development at post-primary level: The voices of student teachers before and after the publication of the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategy. [Oral Presentation], Learner Voice Conference of Inclusion in Education and Society Group TCD, Trinity College Dublin , 26-JUN-15 - 27-JUN-15. [Details]
(2014) MEDAWEL Regional Conference,
Rutherford, V. & Pickup, I. (2014) Re-Authorship in the Higher Education Student Experience: implementing innovative strategies to facilitate student progression through liminal spaces. [Invited Seminars/Guest Lectures], MEDAWEL Regional Conference, Princess Sumaya University for Technology, Amman, Jordan , 26-OCT-14 - 27-OCT-14. [Details]
(2014) Future of Higher Education - Bologna Process Researchers' Conference,
Rutherford, V. & Pickup, I. (2014) Negotiating Liminality in Higher Education: formal and informal dimensions of the student experience as facilitators of quality. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], Future of Higher Education - Bologna Process Researchers' Conference, The National Library, Bucharest, Romania , 24-NOV-14 - 26-NOV-14. [Details]
(2011) PLACIM: Towards a Platform for a Cultural History of Children's Media,
PLACIM Members 17-19 August 2011. (2011) ‘Technologies of Power: school discourses in Ireland from the 1880s’. [Oral Presentation], PLACIM: Towards a Platform for a Cultural History of Children's Media, Maastricht University, The Netherlands , 17-AUG-11 - 19-AUG-11. [Details]
(2011) Childhood in Irish Society: an interdisciplinary conference,
Rutherford, V. (2011) ‘Education of Body and Mind: child recreation in Ireland from 1886’. [Invited Oral Presentation], Childhood in Irish Society: an interdisciplinary conference, Mater Dei Institute, Dublin , 18-APR-11 - 19-APR-11. [Details]
(2011) Wiring the Brain: Making Connections,
Hall, K., Curtin, A. Rutherford, V. (2011) Networks of the mind: a neurocultural perspective on learning. [Poster Presentation], Wiring the Brain: Making Connections, Co. Wicklow , 12-APR-11 - 15-APR-11. [Details]
(2012) ESAI,
ESAI Members (2012) ‘School Reporting in Ireland from 1831: Panopticism and the Columns of Power’. [Invited Oral Presentation], ESAI, River Lee Hotel, Western Road, Cork , 30-MAR-12 - 30-MAR-12. [Details]
(2012) Eighteenth Annual Conference, Society for the Study of Nineteenth Century Ireland,
Members Society for the Study of Nineteenth Century Ireland (2012) ‘Cultivating Bourgeoisie Childhood: child recreation in nineteenth-century Ireland’. [Oral Presentation], Eighteenth Annual Conference, Society for the Study of Nineteenth Century Ireland, Mater Dei Institute, Dublin City University , 28-MAY-12 - 28-MAY-12. [Details]
(2012) PLACIM II Workshop,
PLACIM Members (2012) ‘Nostalgic Panoramas of Childhood: toys objects in Ireland 1851-1909’. PLACIM II Workshop, University of Reading , 30-AUG-12 - 31-AUG-12. [Details]
(2013) Society for the History of Children and Youth Conference,
Panel Member, ‘Doll Corner’ (2013) Technologies of Gender: doll discourses in Ireland, 1801-1909,. Society for the History of Children and Youth Conference, University of Nottingham, UK , 25-JUN-13 - 27-JUN-13. [Details]
(2013) 21st Biannual Conference of the International Research Society for Children’s Literature,
PLACIM Panel Member (2013) International Research Society for Children’s Literature. [Invited Lectures (Workshops)], 21st Biannual Conference of the International Research Society for Children’s Literature, University of Maastricht , 10-AUG-13 - 14-AUG-13. [Details]
(2012) Towards a Platform for the Cultural History of Children's Media (PLACIM), Conference 2012,
Rutherford, V. (2012) Nostalgic Panoramas of Childhood: toys objects in Ireland 1851-1909. [Invited Lectures (Workshops)], Towards a Platform for the Cultural History of Children's Media (PLACIM), Conference 2012, University of Reading, UK . [Details]
(2013) Girlhood Beyond the Doll Corner: Discursive, Performative, and Historical Spaces,
Rutherford, V. (2013) Technologies of Gender: Doll Discourses in Ireland, 1801-1909. [Invited Oral Presentation], Girlhood Beyond the Doll Corner: Discursive, Performative, and Historical Spaces, University of Nottingham . [Details]
(2013) International Research Society for Children’s Literature Conference,
Rutherford, V. (2013) Timbre and Overtones: voice in modern Irish schoolbooks. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], International Research Society for Children’s Literature Conference, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands , 10-AUG-13 - 14-AUG-13. [Details]
(2014) Future of Higher Education – Bologna Process Researchers’ Conference,
Rutherford, V., Pickup, I. (2014) Negotiating liminality in higher education: formal and informal dimensions of the student experience as facilitators of quality. [Oral Presentation], Future of Higher Education – Bologna Process Researchers’ Conference, Romanian National Library, Romania, Bucharest , 24-NOV-14 - 26-NOV-14. [Details]
(2012) Educational Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI), 37th Annual Conference,
Rutherford, V., Conway, P. (2012) School Reporting in Ireland from 1831: Panopticism and the Columns of Power. [Oral Presentation], Educational Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI), 37th Annual Conference, River Lee Hotel, Cork , 30-MAR-12. [Details]
(2012) Eighteenth Annual Conference, Society for the Study of Nineteenth Century Ireland,
Rutherford, V. (2012) Cultivating Bourgeoisie Childhood: child recreation in nineteenth-century Ireland. [Oral Presentation], Eighteenth Annual Conference, Society for the Study of Nineteenth Century Ireland, Master Dei Institute, Dublin City University , 28-MAY-12. [Details]
(2014) A Transdisciplinary Thinkery on The Body,
Rutherford, V., Conway, P., Murphy, R. (2014) During this Thinkery on the Body people from different disciplines in UCC who are working on “the body” shared and discussed their work. [Oral Presentation], A Transdisciplinary Thinkery on The Body, UCC, Thursday - ORB G27, Friday ORB 101 , 15-MAY-14 - 16-MAY-14. [Details]
(2011) Towards a Platform for a Cultural History of Children's Media (PLACIM), Conference 2011,
Rutherford, V. (2011) Technologies of Power: school discourses in Ireland from the 1880s. [Oral Presentation], Towards a Platform for a Cultural History of Children's Media (PLACIM), Conference 2011, Maastricht University, The Netherlands , 17-AUG-11 - 19-AUG-11. [Details]
(2013) 37th Annual International Conference of the Reading Association of Ireland 'Language, Literacy and Literature: Re-imagining Teaching and Learning',
Murphy, B., Conway, P., Curtin,A., Rutherford, V. Murphy, R. (2013) Changed experiences of literacy in initial teacher education at post-primary level: before and after the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategy. [Other], 37th Annual International Conference of the Reading Association of Ireland 'Language, Literacy and Literature: Re-imagining Teaching and Learning', Marino Institute of Education, Dublin , 26-SEP-13 - 28-SEP-13. [Details]
(2012) Trends in Mathematics Education Conference,
Conway, P.F., Rutherford, V., and Delargey, M (2012) Co-Organiser of Conference. [Conference Organising Committee Member], Trends in Mathematics Education Conference, University College Cork , 26-NOV-12. [Details]

Committees

  Committee Function From / To
Athena SWAN Member 2024 /
Learning and Teaching Committee Member 2018 /

Employment

  Employer Position From / To
NUI Maynooth Tutor 01-SEP-99 / 30-JUN-01
The Open University Associate Lecturer 01-SEP-02 / 30-JUL-03
University College Cork Lecturer 05-JAN-09 /
University College Cork Lecturer / Researcher 01-SEP-03 / 06-JUN-06
Dublin City University Lecturer 01-JUL-01 / 25-DEC-01
NUI Maynooth Researcher 01-SEP-02 / 29-JUN-04

Education

  Year Institution Qualification Subject
2002 National University of Ireland, Maynooth, Co.Kildare PhD History
1999 National University of Ireland, Maynooth, Co.Kildare MA History
1997 National University of Ireland, Maynooth, Co.Kildare BA History , Sociology

Journal Activities

  Journal Role To / From
An Leanbh Og, The Omep Journal Of Early Childhood Studies Peer Reviewer -
International Journal Of Research And Method In Education Peer Reviewer -

Teaching Interests


Teaching Experience 

School of Education, University College Cork  
ED4104: Conceptual Foundations in the Philosophy and History of Education (Module Co Ordinator)
ED4105: Conceptual Foundations in the Psychology and Sociology of Education 
ED 6359: Professional Research Paper (PME)  
ED4315: BEd (Hons) Physical Education, Sports Studies and Arts: Y4, Research Methods 
ED6081: Teachers as Researchers: feminist methods for feminist voices  
ED1015: Early Years and Childhood Play and Pedagogy 
SS4004: Early Years Research Project   
Cohort PhD in Education 
Structured PhD in Education  
WS6004: Dissertation in Women’s Studies      

The Open University 
Social Problems, Social Thought and Social Action in Urban Britain 1870 –1914 
 
Dublin City University  
Land Politics and Society in Ireland, 1840–1922  
 
Maynooth University  
BA History (NUI Maynooth) 
BA Local and Community Studies (NUI, Maynooth) 

Current PG Students: 
Denise McSWeeney (PhD)
Michelle O'Keeffe (PhD) 
Genevieve Collins (PhD)
Eimear Conran (PhD) 
Angela Santoro (PhD) 

Gillian Fenton - Leogue (MEd) 

Erin Griffin (PME)
Shannon Hamilton (PME) 
Eimear Hughes (PME) 
Donnacha O'Brien (PME) 
Shauna O'Connor (PME) 
Aine Walsh (PME) 
Adrian Wood (PME)  




 


Recent Postgraduates

  Graduation Year Student Name Institution Degree Type Thesis Title
2019 Angela Tobin NUI (UCC) PHD Presentation Convent & Primary School, Waterford, 1798-2005: History, Voice and Experience of Former Teaching Sisters, Lay Teachers and Pupils
2018 Denise Lyons NUI (UCC) PHD Social Care Workers in Ireland-Drawing on Diverse Representations & Experiences
2024 Fergal Harrington UCC DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Is That Enough?’ An Examination of the Conceptual Metaphors Post-Primary Pre-Service Teachers Use to Understand Collaborative Learning
2018 Zsuzsanna Eszes NUI (UCC) Addressing Taboos: investigating absent knowledge & analysing the existing curriculum in the post primary senior cycle education
2025 Avril Carey UCC DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Supporting students with Acquired Brain Injury in Irish Schools-A mixed methods exploration
2019 Rosana Posar NUI (UCC) Mapping the Childfree Spatial Turn in Brazil - it's affects and effects on (in) visible bodies

Current Postgraduate Students

  Student Degree Type
Carey Avril Doctoral Degree (Structured)
Mc Sweeney Denise Doctoral Degree
Conran Emer Bernadette Doctoral Degree (Structured)
Collins Genevieve Catherine Doctoral Degree (Structured)

External Collaborators

  Name Organisation / Institute Country
Cara Delay Associate Professor, History Department, The College of Charleston U.S.A.
Professor E. Wesseling Director Centre for Gender and Diversity,Maastricht University
Professor Miriam Forman-Brunell Department of History, University of Missouri-Kansas City U.S.A.
Leeann Lane and William Murphy Mater Dei Institute of Education,Dublin City University IRELAND
Hanne Smidt European University Association
Christina Brophy Associate Professor, Triton College, Chicago U.S.A.