Lillian Nave is the Faculty and Educational Development Specialist for the Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning for Student Success (CETLSS) at Appalachian State University’s Hickory campus in North Carolina. A former art historian, Lillian also teaches First Year Seminar courses in Intercultural Competence and connects her students virtually with students in Europe, Africa, and Asia. She is the creator and host of the Think UDL podcast which has over 150 episodes. Through the podcast, she interviews practitioners around the world who create more accessible and engaging learning environments for their students. She enjoys spreading the word about UDL through her scholarly articles on faculty development, inclusive pedagogy and UDL, and through speaking engagements at international conferences and invited talks at universities throughout the USA. 

Dr. Liz Norell serves as Associate Director of Instructional Support in the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) at the University of Mississippi. She has spent more than 20 years teaching in higher education, including stints teaching composition, journalism, new media, and political science. She received her PhD in political science from the University of Texas Dallas. Liz’s first book, The Present Professor: Authenticity and Transformational Teaching, is published in the University of Oklahoma Press’s series, Teaching, Engaging, and Thriving in Higher Ed, co-edited by James Lang and Michelle Miller. Liz is passionate about equitable, inclusive teaching, constructive conversations across differences, and fostering meaningful learning. She is also dedicated to boosting awareness of disability in higher education.

Niamh Clancy is the Further Education and Training (FET) Inclusion Development Officer with Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI). She is deeply committed to achieving equality and access for individuals and groups who experience marginalisation or disadvantage. To date, her work has focused on enhancing the development of individuals, enabling them to reach their full potential and find their place within society through person-centred support and inclusive educational frameworks. Niamh has a particular interest in universal design, applying its principles within her current role to ensure that FET environments are inherently accessible and inclusive for all learners.

Eloise McGinty is a lecturer in the Department of Tourism and Sport at ATU Donegal. She has been applying differentiated teaching methods since 2002 and, since discovering Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in 2020, has become a committed advocate. Eloise has facilitated the UDL Digital Badge at both national and local rollouts, serves on the ATU UDL Steering Group as Donegal’s ambassador, and has led workshops and programme audits to raise awareness and embed UDL practices. She recently completed a master’s degree in UDL at ATU Sligo. She teaches in the Inclusive Curriculum using UDL module in the MA in Teaching and Learning.

Patrick is a lecturer at the Atlantic Technological University (ATU), Donegal since 2012, attached to the Faculty of Business. He holds a BA in Hotel and Catering Management (Honours Degree), an MA in Learning and Teaching and an MSc in Marketing Practice. He lectures across two Departments viz the Department of Law, Public Service and Education and the Department of Tourism and Sport. His current research focus is in the area of inclusive curriculum using universal design for learning. He is a UDL badge facilitator for ATU and helps co-facilitate on the national delivery of the digital badge for Universal Design in Teaching and Learning. He lectures on the MA in Learning and Teaching (MALT) at ATU.

Maeve Dempsey is a lecturer in Social Care and Programme Lead for the BA (Hons) Social Care Work programme at the Technological University of the Shannon. She has a background in social care and has also worked as a professional supervisor and coach. She holds a Master’s in Criminology and Criminal Justice and is currently undertaking doctoral research at the University of York in trauma-informed leadership. Her work explores how trauma-informed and inclusive approaches can support psychologically safe leadership, learning, and organisational cultures.

Jennifer is an experienced nurse educator and healthcare professional with a comprehensive background spanning adult and children’s nursing in both Ireland and the UK. She specialised in children’s perioperative nursing and interventional radiology in the world-renowned Great Ormond Street Hospital for sick children.  Jennifer commenced her academic nurse education career in Kings College, London, where she honed and fine-tuned her clinical skills teaching and simulation education expertise. She currently serves as a University Teacher at the University of Limerick, where she delivers teaching across both undergraduate and postgraduate nursing programmes. 
In the University of Limerick, Jennifer contributes to the ongoing advancement of clinical skills training and simulation enhanced learning, supporting the integration of evidence based educational approaches into nursing curricula. Her work focuses on ensuring that students develop essential practical skills within a safe, structured, and supportive learning environment.
Jennifer is dedicated to enabling and empowering the next generation of nurses and midwives with the skills, judgement, and confidence needed to provide exceptional, person centred care which is evident within the innovative suite of pre-recorded videos she has developed to promote accessibility of education for all.

Kerry is a highly experienced adult nurse with an extensive career spanning more than 30 years having worked in both the UK and Ireland.  Kerry’s area of speciality is within Emergency Department nursing where she held positions in Clinical Nurse Management and worked across three separate hospital groups as Assistant Director of Nursing.  
Kerry also serves as a University Teacher at the University of Limerick, where she delivers teaching across both undergraduate and postgraduate nursing programmes. Kerry brings a wealth of practical expertise and leadership to her teaching.
Throughout her career, Kerry has been committed to strengthening professional standards in nursing through high quality, evidence-based, practice focused education. Her teaching philosophy is firmly rooted in real world application; she is deeply practical minded and dedicated to ensuring that her students become safe, confident, and competent practitioners which was the driving force for her to create pre-recorded videos teaching learners niche, critical-care nursing clinical skills.
Kerry is also passionate about developing innovative and accessible learning resources that address the diverse needs of today’s nursing students. Her work consistently aims to promote autonomy, advocacy and confidence in her learners. Kerry supports learners of all backgrounds in achieving their full potential thus preparing them for the complexities of Nursing and Midwifery in the ever-changing, modern healthcare setting.

Thomas O'Shaughnessy serves as the manager of the Educational Assistive Technology Centre at the University of Limerick. With nearly 20 years of experience promoting and facilitating inclusive practices in higher education, Thomas has overseen research initiatives and local and national projects focused on inclusive practices, assistive technology, accessibility, and universal design. Additionally, he is a guest lecturer for several postgraduate courses. Thomas has authored publications in various fields, including assistive technology, accessibility, the third space, and universal design.

Tracy McAvinue has an academic background, having researched and taught in Literary Studies, earning her PhD in 2021. Her research area has been focused on marginalised writers and the need for diversity in literary studies and higher education. Tracy has organised events such as a seminar titled ‘Diversifying the Canon’, an international conference titled ‘Intersectional Irelands’, and seminars addressing inequities and employment precarity for early-career researchers in academia. She worked in the area of Disability Support Services and as Disability Access Route to Education advisor and is currently the Project Officer for Universal Design Inclusive Practice, involved in a number of projects developing inclusive practice in the University of Limerick. Her current research interests are in access and inclusion in higher education.

Sarah Peinelt is the Technology Integration Coordinator at MSLETB, supporting Moodle and digital learning across Further Education and Training. She develops training resources, leads technology-enhanced learning initatives, and works with educators and colleges to improve digital workflows, communication, and teaching practices through practical, accessible and innovation solutions. 

Iris Kerssebeck is Programme Manager for the Immersive Technology Apprenticeship with MSLETB and leads development of the new XR Hub in Sligo. With a background in design, digital media and immersive tech, she specialises in creating practical, real world learning experiences and collaborating with education, industry and skill bodies.