Irish Faculty
Billy MagFhloin Ph.D.
Billy has a Ph.D. in Folkloristics, and a B.A. in Archaeology from University College Dublin. As well as lecturing and tutoring at university level, he also works with Irish television for RTÉ or TG4, but occasionally for international productions, including the BBC, PBS or the National Geographic Channel. He is also an accomplished musician and occasionally works as a tour guide in the Dingle Peninsula. Billy’s scholarly interests include pre-Christian religious practices and beliefs, prehistoric archaeology, and folk practices of early modern Ireland. In 2016 he published a book entitled Blood Rite: The Feast of St. Martin in Ireland
Colm Ó Coileáin Ph.D.
Colm is a post-primary teacher of Physics, Chemistry and Computer Science at Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne. He holds a B.Sc. in Science Education from Dublin City University, as well as an M.Sc. in eLearning. His doctoral research investigated the introduction of inquiry-based science education in Gaelscoileanna; his research interests also include minority-language immersion education, action research and teacher reflective practice.
Dáithí de Mórdha Ph.D.
Dáithí is a journalist and broadcaster at Raidió na Gaeltachta [Irish-language radio service of Raidió Teilifís Éireann], and he teaches History and Archeology of Ireland and the Dingle peninsula at SHU Dingle. He holds a M.Phil. and Ph.D. in Folklore and Ethnology from University College Cork. His Ph.D. thesis is a study of the impact RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta had on the life and especially the cultural life of the Gaeltacht communities. The story of RnaG is told in the context of folklore and ethnological studies. In 2013 he published The Great Blasket: A Photographic Portrait / An Blascaod Mór: Portráid Pictiúr with the The Collins Press.
Dara Jauch
Dara Jauch holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from Dublin City University and a Higher Diploma in Television and Video Production from Kerry College. Dara has been working as a co-producer and editor with award-winning production companies in Dingle, producing documentaries on Human Rights, art, culture and music for broadcasters like RTÉ, BBC and TG4. As well as working in the field, Dara has taught video production to all ages throughout her 14 year career. Dara is a fluent Irish and German speaker and a Cork native who loves living in Dingle.
Fiona Barton M.Sc.
Fiona is a Cardiology Nurse Specialist, Acute Medical Training, and Resuscitation and Cardiology Training Director at Critical Care Training Ltd. where she is involved in Resuscitation training with ACLS BLS Immediate Care; ECG workshops; General Practice workshops; Management of ACS and collapse; and Anaphylaxis training. She is also the Resuscitation Officer, Kerry General Hospital. Fiona has also worked in Cardiology CNS at the Dingle Medical Centre, and Cardiology at the Mater Hospital Dublin.
John O’Connor M.Sc
John is an SENr and AfN registered performance nutritionist currently working with Kerry GAA, Elevate Performance and his own business, Target Nutrition. This work allows him to keep on top of the latest nutrition research. He holds a BSc in Sport & Exercise Science from the University of Limerick and a MSc in Exercise & Nutrition Science from the University of Chester along with several speciality certifications such as Disordered Eating in Athletes from Loughborough University and Food as Medicine from Monash University, amongst others. John teaches The Fundamentals of Nutrition at SHU campus in Dingle.
Kevin J. Power Ph.D
Kevin J. Power, Ph.D. (University College Cork) is a Cork-born philosophy teacher and musician, now living in Castlegregory, Co. Kerry. He has lectured in the philosophy of mind, environmental ethics, and philosophy of death and dying, as well as writing and delivering a unique module entitled 'The Philosophy of Interdependence' for UCC's Adult Continuing Education programme, as well as teaching Bioethics at the Dingle campus of Sacred Heart University. Kevin's writing and music is available through his website www.innerchapter.com.
Niamh Varian Barry MA
Niamh Varian-Barry holds a Masters in Music Performance from the Royal Irish Academy of Music and a Bachelors in Music Performance from the Cork School of Music. She is a skilled orchestral and ensemble composer and arranger and has written for the Irish Chamber Orchestra. She worked with top musicians in Ireland and abroad across all genres of music with a specific interest in classical, Irish traditional music and contemporary pop and singer-songwriters. She is a member of the groundbreaking dance music project SuperCéilí and orchestra leader of the Irish Memory Orchestra and has performed in prestigious venues worldwide including New York’s Carnegie Hall.
Róisín McKenna MA
Róisín McKenna, is a registered Social Care Worker who holds a MA in Social Care Management and a Postgraduate qualification in Higher Teaching and Learning, she is currently in the final stages of a MSc in Psychology. Róisín has over a decade of experience working with adults and children with intellectual disabilities and complex needs. As well as this she has led early intervention teams working with children and families in the community. Róisín is passionately involved in a number of local initiatives, is a director of a local charity and is an external member of a Rights Review Committee which supports the rights of adults with intellectual disabilities in the County. Róisín is currently undertaking research in the area of parenting and holds a special interest in trauma informed practice.
Sharon Ní Shúilleabháin Ph.D.
Sharon holds a B.A. (Moderatorship) in Environmental Science from Trinity College, Dublin and a Ph.D. from the Radiation and Environmental Science Centre, TU, Dublin. Her doctoral research evaluated the use of in vitro bioassays for the ecotoxicological assessment of estuarine sediments. She is currently interested on the impacts of sustainable agricultural practices on biodiversity and water quality.
SHU
Abby Bender Ph.D.
Abby Bender teaches Experiencing Literature, First-year Seminar, and classes in Irish literature and culture, including Irish Women Writers, Irish Drama, and James Joyce. Her research has focused primarily on twentieth-century Irish writing, including a recent book on Irish-Jewish analogies during the literary revival, and essays on Irish women's writing. She earned her Ph.D. in English at Princeton University and previously taught at the College of Mount Saint Vincent and in the Irish Studies program at New York University. Her current teaching and research explore questions of disability, the body, and motherhood in Ireland in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.
Alex Long, Ph.D., CSCS, USAW-1
Dr. Alex Long is a dedicated strength and conditioning professional and sports scientist with experience serving a diverse range of populations, including recreational, amateur, tactical, and NCAA Division I athletes. He earned his Ph.D. in Sports Performance and Physiology from East Tennessee State University in 2024, where he was honored with the Outstanding Dissertation Award. Dr. Long also holds an M.A. and B.A. in related fields from the University of Northern Iowa. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association and a USA Weightlifting Level-1 Certified Coach. Dr. His research integrates practical training methods with scientific inquiry to optimize human performance.
Analisa Gagnon Ph.D.
Dr. Analisa Gagnon is an Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice in the Department of Sociology, Criminology and Criminal Justice. A criminologist by title and victimologist by practice, Professor Gagnon focuses both her teaching and research on victimology, crime theory, and criminal justice systems. Professor Gagnon is a regular presenter at the American Society of Criminology appearing on panels for topics ranging from victimization, crime scene investigation, and corrections. Having assisted in reactivating the Criminal Justice Club on campus, she currently serves as its faculty advisor.
Dawn Melzer Ph.D.
Dawn Melzer teaches at both the graduate (MSAP) and undergraduate levels. She teaches Child Development in Dingle, and has been instrumental in the development of the current project-based course format. Her current research projects involve investigating the role of executive function in the motor development of children and a comparative study focused on assessing creativity in dolphins and preschoolers.
Enda McGovern Ph.D.
Enda McGovern teaches Tourism Marketing in Dingle that enables students to work directly with local tourist businesses. He is a native of Donegal, Ireland. His primary interests are Social marketing and bringing a better understanding of commuter behavior to travel demand management and in engaging in persuading commuters to consider alternative modes of transport. More recently, he has focused in examining the public's perception of assessing carbon emissions and how consumers can relate to their carbon footprint as a means of informing themselves more about global warming concerns.
Heather Ferrillo Ph.D., MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, CNE
Heather Ferrillo teaches in both the undergraduate and Family Nurse Practitioner program. Her current areas of focus include Adult nursing I and II, Pathophysiology and Nursing Leadership in Ireland. She maintains a current practice as a Cardiology Nurse Practitioner in the Bridgeport area and coordinates/precepts nurse practitioner students that take part in the yearly clinical immersion trip to Kingston, Jamaica, as well as teaches in Dingle, Ireland.
James "Todd" Barnes, JD
Todd Barnes is an award-winning filmmaker and commercial director who has been making movies with his brother Brad since their father brought home a Betamax in the early 1980s. A Sundance Film Festival alum, Todd won the Best of Next Award for their feature The Locksmith (also known as Homewrecker). His work has screened at the Cannes Film Festival, aired on Showtime, and been distributed internationally by Canal+. In addition to his film work, Todd has directed commercial content for major clients like IBM, Adobe, and Victorinox. He holds a BA from Middlebury College and a JD from Boston College Law School.
Jennifer McLaughlin MA
Jennifer is the Executive Director of Student Advising and Success, working with students across the University. She is also a member of the history department. Her research and teaching focuses on topics in the history of Early America, the American Revolution, African American history, U.S. environmental history as well as the British Empire.
Jerald Dunavin
Joshua A. Shuart Ph.D.
Dr. Shuart's expertise and scholarly interests include celebrity endorsement, sport marketing, and sport & entertainment sponsorship. He is a member of the North American Society for the Sociology of Sport (NASSS), The Alliance for Sport Business, Sport Marketing Association (SMA), and the North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM). Prior to coming to Sacred Heart University, Professor Shuart worked as a Research Associate with the Laboratory for Leisure, Tourism & Sport in Storrs, CT. In 2003, he was named a Sam M. Walton Free Enterprise Fellow and worked with students as a Faculty Advisor to the Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE). Dr. Shuart has consulted with numerous organizations, teams and corporations, including: ESPN, World Wrestling Entertainment, The Harlem Globetrotters, Madison Square Garden, and the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
Lisa Smith, Psy.D.
Dr. Smith is a clinical psychologist with extensive training and experience in health psychology. She completed post-doctoral clinical training at The Renfrew Center, treating women with eating disorders. In addition, she also worked in skilled nursing facilities assisting short term patients cope with various stressors arising during their recovery as well as long term patients cope with the aging process. Dr. Smith has previously taught at Touro College and Argosy University Online.
Mark Congdon Jr Ph.D.
Mark Congdon has a Ph.D. in Communication with a concentration in Social Entrepreneurship, Communication Pedagogy, and Educational Leadership. Dr. Congdon’s scholarly interest considers the ways in which community partnerships and pedagogical praxis (i.e., teaching & learning) can work together to advance social justice initiatives in communities
Mark Jareb Ph.D.
Mark Jareb is the Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs and Strategic Planning for the College of Arts and Sciences. He specializes in Neurobiology/Cell Biology and examines primary cultures of embryonic chick forebrain neurons as a model system to study the development and maintenance of neuronal polarity. His work focuses on how proteins that make the axon functionally unique are trafficked to the correct location. He co-teaches Experiential Models of Psychology and Neuroscience that explores applications of environmental enrichment in Dingle, Ireland.
Nathan Lewis MFA
Nathan Lewis is Professor of Art, Chair of Art & Design, and the curator of the A&D Gallery at the Edgerton. Nathan teaches painting, drawing, printmaking, design, and art history. His artwork is shown in museums, galleries, and universities throughout the United States and Abroad. SHU has three murals by Nathan. His work has been published and reviewed by the Boston Globe, the New York Times, International Artist Magazine, and the Huffington Post. Recent exhibitions have been in New York, Miami, California, Connecticut, and Venice, Italy. He loves road-tripping, travel, and art history, but really loves teaching newcomers how to paint and helping them find the artist within them.
Rachel Bowman Ph.D.
Rachel Bowman, Professor of Psychology, co-teaches Experiential Models of Psychology and Neuroscience that explores applications of environmental enrichment in Dingle, Ireland. Her research focuses primarily on anxiety and learning and memory in a rodent model and examines how these processes are altered by experiences such as stress exposure, environmental enrichment, and environmental toxin exposure.
Russell S Porter MBA
With 30 years of experience in financial leadership in both large corporations and smaller non-profits, Russ Porter brings a combination of industry expertise and a passion for learning to Sacred Heart University College of Business. He is focused on financial management of companies of all sizes and types, and his extensive experience in financial planning, analytics and leadership helps him to enable his students to provide real-world insights into data-driven decision-making. At SHU, Russ is committed to preparing future financial and analytics professionals with the skills needed to thrive in today’s dynamic business landscape.
Villanova University
Susan K. Meyers, PhD, RNC, CNE, CPNP-PC
Dr. Meyer is a Clinical Associate Professor at Villanova University with extensive expertise in maternal-child nursing, women’s health, neonatal, and pediatric nursing. She earned her PhD and BSN from Villanova University and her MSN with a Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner certification from the University of Pennsylvania. Her teaching areas include nursing care of childbearing women and families, women’s health, neonatal nursing, nursing simulation, leadership, health assessment, and the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner program. Dr. Meyer is a Board-Certified Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner and holds additional certifications as a Neonatal Resuscitation Program Instructor, Basic Life Support Instructor, Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC), and Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST). Her professional focus centers on advancing evidence-based practice in maternal-child and pediatric nursing education and clinical care.
Jennifer Mondillo, PhD, MBA, MSN, APRN, BC
Dr. Mondillo is a Clinical Associate Professor and a Track Coordinator for the Adult Geriatric Nurse Practitioners at Villanova University. Dr. Mondillo received her BS and MSN from Gywnedd-Mercy University, her MBA from DeSales University, and PhD from Widener University. Dr. Mondillo is a Board Certified Adult Geriatric Nurse Practitioner. Dr. Mondillo’s teaching specialties include leadership courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels as well as Advanced Physical Assessment and multiple clinical courses across all curriculums. Dr. Mondillo’s clinical expertise spans primary care for a variety of populations from adolescence through end of life, with a focus on geriatrics, movement disorders, and leadership in healthcare. Her research interests include assessment and dissemination of care for aging populations, healthcare administration, leadership theories and application, and emotional intelligence.
Southern New Hampshire University
Doug Blais, Ph.D.
Dr. Blais joined SNHU in 1996 and is a professor of Sport Management. He received SNHU's Excellence in Teaching Award in 2003 and 2010. Blais has worked with some of the best sports teams and companies in the world. He has advised the Boston Celtics on their ticketing policies, traveled with NBC to help produce the Olympics and consulted with many sports teams and entertainment venues in New England and beyond. Blais received his BS from New Hampshire College in 1998, his MBA from SNHU in 1990 and his Doctor of Philosophy in Sport Management from the University of Connecticut in 2000. In 2011, Blais traveled to Nicaragua with Soccer Without Borders where he assisted in providing programming to young girls that are traditionally excluded from sports-based and extracurricular activities. In 2016, Blais traveled to Uganda with the organization providing academic and sport-based programing to underserved children. Blais works closely with Team Impact, a non-profit organization that matches children facing serious and chronic illnesses with college athletic teams. His on-going 5-year longitudinal study measures the impact the relationship has on the child and the student-athlete. Blais was awarded the Faculty Athletic Representative Fellowship from the National Collegiate Athletic Association in 2006 and in 2012 attended the NCAA Advanced Leadership Institute. Blais served on the NCAA Division II Management Council from 2013-2017. Blais was inducted into SNHU's Alumni Hall of Fame in 2003.
Christine Blais Ph.D.
Dr. Christine Blais is an Associate Professor in the Business Administration and Management department at Southern New Hampshire University. Her background in industry is in corporate training and development with an emphasis on sales effectiveness and coaching. Dr. Blais has taught at the undergraduate and masters levels and in two separate nationally recognized three year programs at SNHU, the Bradley Three-Year Honors program and College Unbound (an experiential learning, integrated studies degree program). Dr. Blais completed her doctorate in Leadership Studies in 2015. Her doctoral research focused on a case study involving use of student-driven questions within individualized learning plans and the relationship to HERI’s Social Change Model of Leadership Development. She also has become certified through NSEE (National Society for Experiential Education), and was a presenter at the 2017 NSEE conference and co-founder of the Experiential Education Committee at SNHU. In June of 2018, Dr. Blais co-presented her work in constructing and teaching an interdisciplinary course at the International Conference for MOBTS (Management and Organizational Behavior Teaching Society) at Maynooth University in Ireland. Most recently, Dr. Blais has gone back to her roots in researching the use of student-constructed essential questions. Dr. Blais’ research interests include inquiry, authenticity, creativity, teamwork and integration of community business partners in higher education.
University of Scranton
Cyrus P. Olsen III, D.Phil.
Dr. Olsen is Associate Professor of Theology/Religious Studies at The University of Scranton and Affiliate Faculty for Health Humanities. A graduate of the Comparative History of Ideas Program at The University of Washington, and Systematic Theology from The University of Oxford, his research and teaching focus on religion and society from 1750-Present. In addition to his primary academic appointment, Dr. Olsen is also Research Fellow for AI&Faith, and an Affiliate Research Fellow through a Templeton World Charity Foundation Grant at the Human Network Initiative, a subsidiary of the Dhand Lab specializing in Neurology at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, located in Cambridge, MA.
Alvernia University
Angela Salio, MSN, RNC-OB
Angela Salio is certified in in-patient obstetrics and is passionate about education and ensuring that everyone has access to quality healthcare. She has taught transcultural, obstetrical, psychiatric, leadership, and medical-surgical nursing in the classroom and the clinical environment. In addition to teaching at the collegiate level, she has worked in acute care nursing for fifteen years with a diverse patient population. She holds a master’s and bachelor’s degree in nursing and a bachelor’s degree in psychology. She is a member of the Transcultural Nursing Society, Sigma Theta Tau, the American Nurses Association, and the National League for Nursing. She has published an article in The Nurse Educator. Angela Salio is also in a doctoral program working to earn a Ph.D. in Nursing with a focus on education.
Administration
Gary Delaney
Gary Delaney hails from Dublin and has made a significant impact in County Kerry after relocating - first at the age of 23, and then permanently to Dingle at the age of 38. Gary co-founded a multimillion-euro business, which he successfully sold when aged 36, ensuring long-term sustainable employment in the region. Post-retirement, Gary has been instrumental in community and business development in Dingle. His notable contributions include the development of the Dingle Hub, a creative workspace, the refurbishment of St. Mary’s Temperance Hall, a protected building, consolidating the affordable and sustainable tenure of the Dingle sailing and Rowing clubs in their Marina premises, joining the board of Mortas Pobail, a company dedicated to the redevelopment of the former Dingle famine workhouse, supporting An Diseart in their ongoing investment in and dedication to providing an exceptional public and community amenity, and co-founding the Dingle Heartsafe Project to enhance local emergency response systems. Currently, Gary serves as the Executive Director and Company Secretary of Sacred Heart University’s Dingle Campus. He oversees strategic planning and management, aligning his efforts with SHU’s commitment to personal responsibility and community engagement. Gary is dedicated to growing SHU’s Dingle Campus into a vibrant centre for science, liberal arts, and humanities education, fostering immersive study-abroad experiences, and welcoming international students. His people-focused business philosophy drives his work, along with his voluntary involvement in community enterprises across the region.
Grace Flannery Ph.D.
Grace, a native of Dingle, holds a Ph.D. in Zoology from the University College Cork. Since 2015, she has played a vital role at SHU Dingle, where her primary aim is to help American students understand and appreciate Irish culture while using education to benefit the local community. Her role extends beyond overseeing all academic and student experience aspects of the campus. She is also responsible for recruiting new academic talent, forging partnerships with local industries and Irish academic institutions, and collaborating closely with other U.S. colleges and universities to develop the diverse array of programs that SHU Dingle offers.
Ciara Barrett Ph.D.
Originally from Boston, Massachusetts, Ciara moved to Ireland to attend Trinity College Dublin as an undergrad before going on to earn her doctorate in Film Studies. Ciara joined SHU Dingle as a Lecturer in 2017 before moving into the role of Student Coordinator. Having experienced the cross-cultural transition from American into Irish life as a young adult, Ciara knows firsthand the benefits and challenges of studying abroad. As Program Co-Director, Ciara oversees Student Life and Experience at the SHU Dingle Campus, as well as program development in the Arts and Humanities and extending inter-collegiate partnerships. She lectures in Irish Cinema and Creative Writing. Ciara is passionate about making the transformative life experience offered by SHU Dingle available to as many students as possible from a diverse range of backgrounds.
Declan Devane A.C.C.A.
Declan is a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and has a wealth of experience working previously as Assistant Financial Accountant for Fexco of Killorglin, Co. Kerry; as Finance Administrator for Irish Life Investment Managers of Dublin; as an Accountant for SEB Life International of Dublin; as well as several other institutions. His Bachelor of Business Studies degree is from the University of Limerick.
Ross Fitzgerald
While growing up in London, Ross developed a passion for global engagement on trips abroad to visit family and experience the culture of Trinidad and Ireland. Before relocating fully to Ireland in 2024 and joining SHU Dingle, he was an experienced Exams Manager at Lewisham and Southwark Colleges in London and provided advisory support to 5 other colleges across the UK. Ross also brings expertise in the areas of data analysis, compliance, and information systems management to SHU in Dingle, where he works closely with the rest of the team to deliver exceptional learning and cultural experiences to students and faculty.