Meet the Team | Centre for Digital Education
We're always happy to talk! If you'd like to chat simply click on our details below, or email: cde@ucc.ie.
Tom O'Mara - Head of Digital Education (CDE Manager)
Email: tom.omara@ucc.ie
Tel.: (087) 2244725
Tom O’ Mara is Head of Digital Education in UCC and manages the Centre for Digital Education.
Tom serves on many digital and learning committees and working groups at University College Cork (UCC). He has also served on Quality Review, Quality and Capacity, Validation and advisory panels with Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI). Tom is also a Board Director of the National Adult Literacy Agency.
Tom has a UCC degree in English and Maths. He also has a Masters in Online and Distance Education from the Open University. He also has certificates in teaching English, instructional design, multimedia development, and leadership.
Tom has been a professional educator for over 29 years. He has worked in both the public and private sectors and in a variety of learning contexts. He joined UCC in 2015. His prior experience includes:
- English language teacher at third level in Thailand, Egypt, and Ireland;
- Instructional Designer in Research and Development of commercial e-learning companies, designing content for online blue-chip and public companies.
- Series Editor, Instructional Designer, and Multimedia Developer with a TV/e-learning company; and
- Distance Education Coordinator for the Irish National Adult Literacy Agency.
Outside of work, Tom is a father of two teenagers. He's also a lifelong scout, hiker, fly fisher, and Tipperary hurling supporter.
For more information go to: linkedin.com/in/tomomara1/
Clíodhna O'Callaghan - Digital Education Officer
Email: c.ocallaghan@ucc.ie
Clíodhna O’Callaghan, LLB, LLM, Attorney-at-law, CTE
Clíodhna is a higher education professional and student & person centered. Clíodhna's background is in higher education management and in lecturing in law and (digital) education (live and online). Clíodhna is a qualified Attorney-at-Law in the State of New York, USA with a degree in Law & European Studies and an LLM Masters qualification in Law.
In 2012 Clíodhna was honoured to win the 'President's Award for Academic Excellence in Teaching & Learning' for an initiative around ‘Assessment for Learning’. In 2014 Clíodhna launched, project managed, and lectured on the first law degree to go online/ blended in Ireland. In December of 2019 Clíodhna was delighted to lead out on the national IUA (Irish Universities Association) project - 'Enhancing Digital Teaching & Learning' (EDTL) for UCC. The project's aim was to enhance the digital attributes and educational experiences of university students through enabling mainstreamed and integrated digital technologies. Clíodhna is also Co-Chair of UCC’s Women’s Network, Mná@UCC.
Clíodhna is from the Cúil Aodha Gaeltacht in Co. Cork and a gaeilgeoir with a genuine grá for the Irish language, culture, and tradition. Clíodhna is passionate about enhancing student centered, accessible, learning and teaching.
For more information go to: linkedin.com/in/clíodhna-o-callaghan-a746b568/
Fergal Harrington - Digital Education Officer
Email: fergalharrington@ucc.ie
Fergal Harrington, BSc-Ed Physics and Education, PhD
Fergal joined the CDE Team in October 2023 as a Digital Education Officer. He began the Digital Assessment Project to explore how digital tools can enhance assessment practices in UCC. He chairs the Digital Assessment steering group and coordinates the University's Instructional Designers.
Fergal leads the roll-out of Vevox, a tool to support better student-engagement, online and off. He is also the CDE's Data Champion for data-management and cyber-security.
Fergal's research background is on collaborative learning and professional learning communities. For this work, he won the Mary L. Thornton scholarship and the Early Career Research national awards. His interests are in fostering collaborative communities of practice and democratic education.
Between 2006 and 2011, Fergal taught Physics and Maths in Cork DEIS schools. In 2011, he moved to New Zealand where he worked as Head of Physics and Specialist Teacher for Digital Technology for six years. He currently lives in organises local inclusive groups in his local community of Macroom. Fergal is also a board member of Youth Reach Cork North West.
Personally and professionally, Fergal is an avid fan of bringing people together.
For more information go to: linkedin.com/in/dr-fergal-harrington-00036895/
Eugene Campbell - Digital Education Support Assistant
Email: ecampbell@ucc.ie
Before joining UCC in September 2022, Eugene spent seven years working on department-level admissions and recruitment at University of York in the UK. This varied position included high-volume application processing, liaising with central teams, and organising events such as undergraduate interview days and masters taster sessions. Prior to his stint in the UK, Eugene worked in arts administration within Wexford County Council. During this period, he gained experience of working with artists in Community, Health, and Primary Education settings. Again, event organising was a significant part of his work activity, in addition to finance and oversight of the Wexford County Council Art Collection.
As part of the CDE, Eugene's areas of responsibility include Digital Badges, Agresso and Health & Safety. He also collaborates with HR and OVPLT respectively on the UCC Professional Skills Digital Badge and the OVPLT Talks video series.
For more information go to: linkedin.com/in/eugene-campbell-1a7706bb/
Michelle Donovan - Instructional Designer
Email: mdonovan@ucc.ie
Michelle is an Instructional Designer with the CDE. She graduated with a degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from UCC. Soon after she worked on a start-up called TAPSTAK, creating a Platform for interacting with anything at the tap of a button.
Michelle has always had a keen interest in the use of technology in Education. As an undergrad, she worked with robotics to assist children with learning difficulties. She also worked as part of an interdisciplinary team to develop a tool for cystoscopy training. While in university she volunteered at a local school teaching children robotics. From this experience she created an educational board game for the Year of George Boole.
In 2021, Michelle returned to UCC as a RSO to work with the CDE on the Learning Analytics LITE project. She has remained interested in the area of Learning Analytics ever since.
After the Learning Analytics project Michelle remained with the CDE team and took up the role of ID. This role involves supporting staff in implementing technological solutions as part of their pedagogical practice through problem solving, training and consultation.
Ríanna Peck - Instructional Designer
Email: rianna.peck@ucc.ie
Ríanna has been working as an Instructional Designer with the CDE since March 2017. She graduated with a Bachelors of Pharmacy in 2016, followed by a HDip in Applied Computing Technology in 2018, both from UCC. She liaises with academic staff from a variety of departments to provide advice, support and training in the development of online and blended courses.