When Professor Jennifer Johnston, the new Vice-Dean of the School of Education (Post-Primary), set foot in MIC Thurles to start her new role in January this year, it was a homecoming for many reasons. The Kerry native’s return was not just to Ireland—having spent the past nine years in the University of Lincoln’s School of Education—but from 2012, she had previously taught for three years at St Patrick’s Campus in its previous guise as St Patrick’s College.
In the time since she was last here, however, Jennifer notes that the College has changed considerably, not least due to the incorporation of by Mary Immaculate College (MIC) in 2016:
“MIC Thurles feels very familiar, but there are lots of new challenges and there are lots of new people here. My favourite part of my new role is getting to know new people. Returning to a place where I know a lot of people already, it immediately felt like home. Though, it’s not just meeting and getting to know those working here in Thurles, but rather, the MIC community in a wider sense. I've really enjoyed getting to know all my new colleagues both here and in Limerick. I also now have a role in which I'm not teaching students, but I'm instead meeting them in different ways. It’s a different type of relationship. I'm starting to build that quite nicely.”
Being part of a multi-campus higher education institution brings with it a number of challenges and issues. While discussing the topic, Jennifer notes the importance of embracing the relationship between MIC’s two campuses, and looking to the opportunities that both campuses can provide to one another:
“I see part of my role as a means of making links across all areas, whether it’s on an academic level, or just creating a greater awareness of MIC Thurles and what we do. It’s an ongoing plan to continue to enhance those connections. While there is a greater critical mass on the Limerick campus, in the age of communication, being a multi-site campus isn’t a big issue. The distance is no longer big at all. There are connections there, but a big part of my role will be to make more of those connections.”
With an extensive background in teacher education, Jennifer brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the role:
“My own academic journey probably isn’t too exciting, just lots of hard work! I started off studying a Bachelor in Science Education in the University of Limerick, where I then went on to do my PhD. While doing that, I was also working full-time in the National Centre for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching and Learning, which is now EPI-STEM—a research centre. I then moved to here, St Patrick’s College (as it was then), where I took up the position of Head of Education in 2012. I spent three years here before moving to the UK, where I took up a senior lecturing role in the University of Lincoln. There, I was involved in a lot of programme development, so I had a lot of experience in that area and when the role came up in Thurles, the timing was right for me to return to Ireland.”
As many academics in senior positions within higher education institutions will point out, what you enjoy researching and what you end up researching are often two very different things. Given Jennifer’s own research interests, however, it appears that MIC Thurles was the perfect fit:
“My own area of academic interest is teacher education. Specifically STEM education. So, science education, mathematics as well as teacher education teacher, and professional teacher identities. I can take a lot of that and apply it to my new role as Vice-Dean. The main business in MIC Thurles is teacher education after all. Firstly, from my time here in Thurles and then from the time I spent later in the UK, I have gained a depth of knowledge around teachers, whether that’s teacher development and formation or teacher identities. I think I bring a lot of strengths in understanding teaching to my new role, whether that be understanding their development or understanding the kind of needs our teachers have.
With the concurrent programmes in Thurles, I think there’s a great opportunity in working with the teacher over longer periods of time. It has really helped me understand the importance of development of subject knowledge. I think we do that really well here in Thurles around that depth of subject knowledge combined with a very decent round of school placement and time out in schools.”
On the topic of students, Jennifer is quick to point out the emphasis she places on their voices and concerns:
“For me, it’s very important to listen to the voices of the students and the challenges that they now bring. There are lots of challenges along the way to becoming a teacher, so anywhere that I can push a door open for them or lead in that space, then I will. Plus, I do love a challenge! One of the key things that I've been working on since I started here at the beginning of January has been hosting a graduation ceremony here in Thurles and we are delighted that one has now been confirmed for October 31 2025.”
Outside of her time spend on the provision and study of teacher education, Jennifer adds that she has always been an avid sports enthusiast:
“Being from Kerry, it has always been hard to avoid football. I’m a huge GAA fan. I played a lot of GAA in my day and I even played for Kerry for a while. I do love just being outside, whether kayaking, camping, walking, just getting into the outdoors. Now though, I seem to spend most of my free time looking after my two kids and driving them to different sports activities. I’m a spectator now; I don’t get the time to play anymore, but I’m sure I’ll be coaching the kids soon. The only downside is that it’ll be for Tipperary, not Kerry!”
Finally, when asked what her main priorities are in her new role, Jennifer pauses, taking time to consider her answer:
“This is a new role. It’s the first time that there's a Vice-Dean position in MIC Thurles. It's quite an elevated senior role and one of the main priorities is exploring the possibilities of what MIC Thurles can offer to the region, not just to Thurles, but to the entire Munster region. I believe that having that position of Vice-Dean sends out a different message now. My priorities lie in thinking about MIC Thurles’ place, not just within the region, but within teacher education in Ireland as a whole. That could include promoting and working with schools, working with the local community and having an outward facing presence within the region, also realising the potential that MIC Thurles has and working towards that. MIC Thurles really has a lot of potential; I’d say a lot of untapped potential. It was really inspiring to see the Home Economics programme get up and running here.”
Reflecting on it again, Jennifer asks:
“So, what exactly are my main priorities? For me, it always goes back to the teachers, back to the students. In essence, that's it for me. That's my main priority; the students. The students as they embark on their journeys to becoming outstanding teachers.”
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