Dr. Maura Coulter

Dr Maura Coulter is the Deputy Dean at the Institute of Education and an Associate Professor in primary physical education. She was the Acting Deputy Dean at DCU Institute of Education from January to August 2026, and previous to this was the Associate Dean for Research (Oct 2019-Dec 2025). Dr Coulter was the staff representative on the DCU Executive Committee (2023-2025). She represented DCU on the CoARA (Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment) National Chapter and the ECIU VP Research CoARA Working Group (2023-2026). She was Chair of the DCU Open Research Steering Group (2023-2026).

Dr Coulter completed her PhD in Professional Development in Physical Education at Dublin City University in 2012. She is a graduate of Ulster University, where she completed her undergraduate degree, BA (Hons) Sport and Leisure Studies, and postgraduate degrees, PGCE - Physical Education, and MSc - Sport Science and Health. Before the formation of the DCU Institute of Education, she was a member of the Education Department at St Patrick’s College (2000-2016). Before relocating to Dublin, Maura was a secondary school teacher and taught GCSE and A-Level physical education and GCSE religious education in Northern Ireland.

Her scholarly interests include teacher professional development, leadership and identity, outdoor risky play, outdoor education, critical pedagogies, including voice pedagogies and social justice pedagogies. She is currently engaged in international collaborative projects with a particular focus on international professional learning communities, leadership and teacher-educator identity, social justice pedagogies, and pedagogies of vulnerability. Dr Coulter is the invited chair of the inaugural Association Internationale des Écoles Supérieures d'Éducation Physique (AIESEP) Primary Physical Education SIG, a global professional organisation that promotes research, high-quality teaching, and knowledge sharing in physical education, sport pedagogy, and physical activity.

She is Executive Editor of Teacher and Teacher Education (TATE) (2026-2029); Co-editor of the Irish Education Studies journal (2023-2026), and an invited editorial board member of the European Physical Education Review. She has received two All-Island SCOTENS John Coolahan Awards (2017/2023) for outstanding research in Teacher Education and has received the DCU President's Gold Medal for Engagement (2021).

Dr Coulter is a member of the steering group of the DCU REACH (Research and Engagement Across Community Health) Centre, a joint partnership between the Health Service Executive (HSE) Community Healthcare Organisation for Dublin North City and County (DNCC CHO 9) and Dublin City University (Faculty of Science and Health and the Institute of Education) that aims to provide research support for the implementation of the national policy (Sláintecare) to reduce health inequalities.

Dr Coulter's external engagement includes Hon Sec of the IRFU Leinster Branch Women's Rugby Committee and IRFU Leinster Branch Executive Committee member. She has represented Ulster and Leinster senior women's rugby and is an ex-International (#73). She has been a director at Student Sport Ireland and chair of their research committee.