Discussion title: Towards a more enlightened future
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| Dr. Teresa Shiels | Teweldebrhan Abraha Reda, PhD | Dr. Vivian Rath | Ms. Ruth Sheridan |
The Towards a more enlightened future discussion panel aims to provide educators and policymakers with some thought-provoking reflections about access to education. Each of the panelists has a unique personal experience of education and has had a challenging road through education. They have an important story to tell. We look forward to a stimulating discussion with them.
Dr. Teresa Shiels is a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) survivor who completed her PhD in 2022. Her research examined neurodiversity and access to higher education in Ireland. She is a unique scholar, having achieved an undergraduate, master’s, and doctorate degree, whilst also overcoming TBI trauma and dealing with a unique set of daily challenges.
She has personal experience of using disability support services and has insider knowledge of social and systemic barriers faced by neurodivergent students. Her interests lie in qualitative research, sociology, doctoral supervision, educational inclusion, and issues concerning diversity and social justice.
Teweldebrhan Abraha Reda, PhD was born in the village of Addi Keyahti, approximately 12 km from the town of Enticho in Central Tigray, Ethiopia. The first of his village to attend university, he was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Jimma University, Ethiopia in 2004 and was subsequently appointed as a Graduate Assistant at Wolaita Sodo University. In 2009, he was awarded a full scholarship to enrol at Addis Ababa University where he subsequently received his Master of Arts degree in Social Psychology (with distinction). Upon completing his master’s degree, he returned to Wolaita Sodo University, where he later served as Head of Department in their School of Psychology and later as Dean of the School of Education and Behavioural Sciences. After 14 years at Wolaita Sodo University, Teweldebrhan was awarded a prestigious scholarship to pursue doctoral studies at the School of Education, University College Dublin (UCD). Having successfully navigated the considerable challenges presented by doctoral level research, Covid lockdowns and the Irish Direct Provision system, he graduated with his PhD in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) in December of last year. Dr Abraha Reda was recently reunited with his wife and two young children after 3 years apart.
Dr Vivian Rath is a Research Fellow at the Trinity Centre for People with Intellectual Disabilities (TCPID) within the School of Education at Trinity College Dublin (TCD). Where he co-coordinates the disability rights module and supervises masters students. He has a background and expertise in human rights, student leadership, success and in creating inclusive environments where everyone belongs. He holds a PhD from Trinity College Dublin, a BSc in pharmacology and MSc in Management from University College Dublin. He is a Government of Ireland Ministerial appointee to the Board of the National Disability Authority, and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Disability Advisory Committee. He is founder and Chair of the Trinity College Dublin Forum for Disabled Staff and the National Disabled Postgraduate Committee. An award-winning equality and civil rights advocate he has spoken in the EU Parliament, the Oireachtas (Irish Parliament) and national television and radio.
Ruth Sheridan Cregg is a PhD candidate at Maynooth University and the distinguished recipient of the John and Pat Hume Doctoral Scholarship. Her doctoral research, titled “Breaking Barriers to Attendance and Engagement for the Irish Traveller Community using a Trauma-Informed Approach,” is dedicated to addressing the systemic educational challenges faced by the Irish Traveller community. By applying a trauma-informed lens, Ruth aims to explore and dismantle the obstacles hindering educational access and participation for this marginalised group.Ruth’s academic journey is a testament to her resilience and commitment to education. After returning to study as a mature student, she completed a BA in Business, Accounting and Education at Mary Immaculate College. Her professional career includes extensive teaching experience in post-primary schools and within the Irish Prison Service. These roles deeply informed her work, which led her to pursue an MA in Equality Studies at University College Dublin. Her MA research, focused on the provision of education within the Irish prison service, emphasising trauma-informed and relational teaching practices and approaches that are now central to her work within education provision for the Irish Traveller community.
Throughout her career, Ruth has collaborated with Traveller organisations to design and implement educational programmes aimed at improving access to education for a community that faces consistent and pervasive discrimination. As one of the most marginalised groups in Ireland, the Traveller community faces unequal educational opportunities, and Ruth’s work seeks to break down the barriers that perpetuate this inequality.
