Dr Deirdre MacIntyre
Founding Director &Â Dean of Research and Academic Affairs
Dr Deirdre MacIntyre (CPsychol, PhD) is a clinical psychologist and the co-founder of ICEP Europe where she operates as the Dean of Research and Academic Affairs. She is an active member of the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI), the Prevention and Early Intervention Network (PEIN) and the European Network for Positive Psychology. Before joining ICEP Europe, Deirdre was principal clinical psychologist in the HSE. Deirdre is also the co-author of the Stay Safe Programme, a nationally implemented child protection programme.
In her work in the higher education sector, Deirdre has developed a range of innovative online undergraduate and postgraduate programmes including a Higher Diploma in Special Educational Needs with Queens University Belfast, a Professional Diploma in Special and Inclusive Education with DCU, an MA in Special & Additional Learning Needs with the University of East London and a PG Dip/ MA in Inclusive & Special Education with Hibernia College. As co-founder of ICEP Europe, Deirdre works across aspects of education and training provision, quality assurance, consultancy, and research projects undertaken by the Institute. Deirdre lectures on inclusion, special needs and psychology for ICEP Europe and teaches on collaborative programmes with Hibernia College and the University of East London.
She has extensive experience working with marginalised children and youth in educational, mental health and justice settings. Deirdre has worked on many large-scale, international, multidisciplinary research projects including Project IRISH, and GoGreenRoutes, an Irish-led H2020 project. As an active researcher, she has published in the area of trauma-informed practice and disseminated her research at national and international conferences. Among Deirdre’s special interests are inclusion, resilience and wellbeing and the prevention of gender-based violence. She is passionate about nature connection and is particularly interested in links between nature connection and resilience in young people.