Student Resource Centre Team
Sarah La Cumbre - Student Resource Centre Manager
Sarah is the Student Resource Centre Manager and is herself a graduate of Design Communications at AIT. She went on to study a BA in Psychology from UCD and an MA in Occupational Psychology from UCC. ‘I understand from personal experience that education and career don’t always follow a predictable or linear path and I bring that empathy to my interactions with students.’ Sarah has worked in recruitment, training and consulting in the private sector in the USA and the UK before returning to Ireland where she worked in the National College of Ireland, and UCD. Sarah returned to AIT in 2006 as Manager of the Student Resource Centre. Like all the staff of the Student Resource Centre, Sarah is friendly and approachable. ‘Working day to day with AIT students is a dream job for me. I am very lucky to work with a great team of highly qualified and dedicated colleagues in our professional services team. I strive to help build resilience, confidence and passion in our students and look forward to helping them in every way I can.’
Sinead Denby - Student Resource Centre Administrator & Projects Officer
_150_208.jpg "Sinead Denby headshot SRC 2022")
Sinéad is the Student Resource Centre Projects Officer and Administrator. She works in the areas of
administration, event planning, project management, and financial
management across all areas of the Student Resource Centre.
Inparticular, Sinéad leads the eight week Connect & Engage Programme
on the Athlone Campus.
Health Centre:
Katie Sherlock - Institute Nurse & Health Centre Coordinator
Katie joined TUS Midlands on a part time basis in October 2020 and became a full time member of the Student Health Centre team in September 2021.
Having graduated as a registered general nurse from U.C.D in 2008, Katie worked in ICU in the Mater hospital for 7 years where she completed a Graduate Diploma in Critical Care Nursing (ICU) from UCD. Katie has also worked in high dependency units, care of the elderly, sexual health and paediatric nursing.
Here in the Technology University of the Shannon, Katie heads up the Student Health Team and oversees the effective and efficient running of the Student Health Centre. Katie also provides nursing care as well as campus emergency response. Katie is delighted to be part of the TUS Student Resources Centre team at such an exciting time for staff and students alike.
Audrey Doyle - Administrator, Student Health Centre
Audrey Joined the Student Resource team in September 2016.
She greets students at the Health Centre reception desk and schedules medical and counselling appointments for them. She also provides administration support for the Student Resource Centre, Health Centre and Counselling Service.
Student Sexual Health, Contraception & Health Promotion Service
Laura Tully R.G.N.B.N.S. Post Grad Dip. Nursing (Specialist Practice)
Laura, former President of the Irish Student Health Association, is an award-winning nurse with 23 years’ experience of various nursing roles in both the public and private sector, where the delivery of high-quality, patient-centered care and maintenance of a safe environment have been pivotal at every juncture. Having graduated as a registered general nurse from N.U.I.G. in 2000, Laura has continued her professional development extending her qualifications list, academic achievements and range of nurse experience since then, most recently qualifying as a sexual health adviser in 2021.
Laura has clinically managed the student health service and clinical team on campus since 2012. Laura transferred her skills and expertise to the new Department of Health funded integrated student sexual health, contraception and health promotion service on campus in 2022 and currently works as Clinical Nurse Manager, Sexual Health Nurse & Sexual Health Adviser at TUS Midlands Campus.
Laura is passionate about the promotion and protection of health and enjoys innovating in healthcare to improve quality of care and efficiency. Laura seeks to ensure people have access to reliable health information at scale and is credited as concept creator for the ‘Student Health Matters’ app as wellas being a reviewer for this and other mobile technology content. Laura thrives
on offering quality care and paying attention to detail and is committed to providing students with accessible, affordable, high-quality healthcare and education to enhance their learning and support academic success and sustained wellness.
Dr. Tom Walsh MB, BCh, BAO M.I.C.G.P
Dr Tom Walsh completd his medical training in NUI Galway, qualifying in 2009. He has worked for six years in General Practice and Student Health. He holds a Diploma in Child Health, Obstetrics & Women’s Health and Travel Medicine as wello as certificates in sexual health and contraception. Dr. Walsh currently provides clinical leadership, governance and oversight to the nurse led sexual health service on campus and provides a weekly specialist sexual health clinic on campus during term-time.
Counselling:
Treasa Fox - Head of AIT Student Counselling Service
Treasa is a psychologist and is Head of AIT Student Counselling Service. In addition to providing psychological counselling to students, Treasa oversees the day to day operations of the service as well as the strategic and developmental planning for the service. Treasa holds an MSc in Counselling Psychology from TCD, and in 1995 was appointed as student counsellor in AIT. The service has since developed from a single counsellor service to the dynamic service of today, with 2 full-time staff, sessional counsellors, pre-accredited interns and trainees. Treasa’s areas of specialist interest are youth mental health, anxiety, trauma and personality and her work is primarily influenced by Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Schema Therapy and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy.
Disability and Learning Support Service:
Lisa Hanlon - Disability Officer
Lisa has been working in TUS Athlone since 2014. Lisa holds a BA degree in Social Care Practice and a Masters in Advanced Social Care Practice. Her career spans over 15 years working in the area of higher education, disability, mental health and health promotion. As Disability Officer Lisa is part of a multidisciplinary team of student support staff within the Student Resource Centre and is responsible for the overall coordination of the Disability & Learning Support Service in TUS Athlone, providing individual/group support and guidance to undergraduate and postgraduate students on educational, social and career related matters.
Róisín Kelly - Learning and Assistive Technology Support Tutor
Róisín is a Learning Support Tutor with the Disability & Learning Support Service. She been working in TUS Athlone since 2006 and in her current role since 2012. Róisín completed her BA Degree in Applied Languages in 2005 and became a Certified Educational Tester with the British Psychological Society in 2010. In 2014, she went on to complete a Postgraduate Diploma in Specific Learning Difficulties and in 2016 she completed a Masters in Professional Studies in Special Education Needs. As a Learning Support Tutor, Róisín supports students with Specific Learning Difficulties in their transition to third level and guides them in developing academic skills required to access and progress through their studies. She also provides Assistive Technology training to students who require support with notetaking.
Aoife Walsh - Assistive Technology Tutor | PASS Coordinator
Aoife is an Assistive Technology Tutor and PASS Coordinator. She completed her Honours Degree in Applied Social Studies while working full time as a note-taker for students with disabilities at AIT. She went on to study an MA in Management in Education through Waterford Institute of Technology. ‘I believe that all students can benefit from additional technological support and/or peer support to attain their educational goals and reach their full potential.’ Aoife was as an Educational Support Worker for nine years before progressing to her current roles. She now works with students from across the college population; academic staff; and primary and secondary school students and teachers. Like all the staff of the Student Resource Centre, Aoife is positive and professional. ‘I’m lucky to work daily alongside students, and to witness their determination, persistence, tenacity and often bravery as they evolve into the Leaders of the future’.
Elaine Kelly - Alternative Formatting | Assistive Technology Tutor
Elaine Kelly is an Assistive Technology Tutor with the Disability & Learning Support Service. Elaine has worked in Athlone Institute of Technology since 2008 and is in her current role since 2011. Elaine’s primary role is to provide visually impaired students with course material in an accessible format. In her role as an Assistive Technology tutor she trains students with Specific Learning Difficulties in the use of literacy support software’s, and together with the Disability and Learning Support Service team facilitates Assistive Technology training to academic staff and secondary school teachers. Elaine has recently joined the Academic Writing Centre as a Formatting Tutor. Elaine is currently undertaking a BA in Disability Equality studies in St. Angela’s College Sligo.
Careers Office:
Denise Dolan - Careers Officer
Denise is focused on helping you reach your full potential through personal development, academic progression and preparing for your next steps once you graduate. The Careers officer offers the following: Career advice and coaching, help with compiling CVs and cover letters, Interview techniques and ‘mock’ interviews. Advice for students thinking of leaving their course, Employer recruitment programmes, Career Bootcamp series and the Annual Careers & Further Study Fair, Postgraduate and further study opportunities, Summer work & information on working abroad.
.
Lorraine Sammon - Careers Office Administrator
Lorraine joined the Student Resource Department back in 2007, having previously worked in other departments within the Institute. As the Careers office administrator, Lorraine organises all appointments for the Careers Officer. She is responsible for dealing with all employers in booking them in for company presentations and advertising Job Vacancies and events. Lorraine is also involved in the first year Induction Programme and our Annual Careers and further study Fair.
Access Office and Mature Students:
With qualifications in coaching and adult guidance and a Master’s in Business Administration, Jenny has more than 18 years’ experience in delivering student-centred services. In her role of Access Officer, Jenny works with lone parents, lower socioeconomic groups, mature students, migrants and travellers to encourage and support their progression into and through higher education. Jenny manages key HEA funded initiatives such as Student Assistance Fund, 1916 Bursary, KickStart Scholarships, HEAR and College Connect for the Midlands campus. Jenny ensures that the Access Service provides students with a dedicated support network and delivers pre and post entry initiatives. If you would like to get in touch please email access@ait.ie
Mary Bohan - Access Office Administrator
Mary joined AIT in 2003 and has gained valuable experience working in various departments within the Institute
Her current role as Access Office Administrator sees Mary involved in all aspect of this busy office within Student Resource Centre.
She plays an integral role in the administration of the Student Assistance Fund and organises the Saturday Maths pre entry initiative. Always on hand to assist with campus tours and access activities, Mary is at the heart of the Access team.
Carmel Hennessy Project Access Officer
Carmel holds a B.A. in Economic and Social Studies and an M.A. in Community Development. She began working in TUS, Athlone campus in 2018 as the Community Connector for the MEND region, a project working to increase participation among groups under-represented in higher education. Prior to this role she spent 9 years in Vancouver, working with diverse teams and communities in wraparound support and community-based education programmes.
Carmels’ values and approach to working with students and communities is inclusive, participatory and strengths based. Her current role as the Project Access Officer provides pre-entry support through a variety of initiatives and partnerships with community organisations and DEIS schools as well as post-entry support to students accessing and progressing through higher education.
Marta Johnston Community Connector, College Connect Access Programme
Marta is a Community Connector based in the Access Office and with the College Connect project. The role involves collaborating with local community organisations that represent disadvantaged communities, and helping them accessing higher education by providing information on the pathways to education and support available.
Marta’s education background prior to joining TUS was in teaching. She is a qualified teacher, with an M.A. in English Philology (Wroclaw) and B.A. Hons English Philology (Konin) and has over 10 years’ experience of teaching and supporting learners of all ages in the U.K. and Poland prior to coming to Ireland.
‘My background and previous employment have helped me learn a great deal about the different types of learners, their needs, and their motivations to progress their education. I enjoy guiding people towards the supports they need to get on their journey to higher education, while helping them overcome the barriers they may face’.
Contact: marta.johnston@tus.ie
Mary Treacy - Traveller Support Worker, Access Office
Mary has over 20 years’ experience of working in a non- profit community organisation which supported children and their families from disadvantaged backgrounds. These supports included Access to education, Health, Early intervention services, Entitlements and Housing. Mary also has worked in the area of Disability with individuals ranging from children to adults with a focus on access and inclusion for all. I believe in putting the individual at the forefront of any decisions and providing encouragement and support where they have a sense of belonging as they pursue their journey through higher education. In Mary’s current role as Traveller Support Worker, she will be part of the Student Resource Centre team and in partnership with Access Office, will ensure that Traveller / Roma students have a dedicated point of contact as well as supporting Whidden workshops.
Tutors:
Emer Coughlan - Maths/IT Tutor
.
.
.
Iain is the Science Tutor, appointed to the Student Resource Centre to support students through the challenging modules on science based courses. Iain graduated top of his class with first class honours in BSc (Hons) Toxicology. He engaged in EPA funded postgraduate research in AIT, and has published his Ecotoxicology research in a number of peer reviewed international journals. He also presents regularly at conferences and was awarded the Iona Pratt Medal for Excellence in Toxicology from the Irish Society of Toxicology in 2016. “I use my passion for teaching and empathy to help every student reach their own individual potential and maximise their learning.” The tutor service is available to all registered science students by the Student Resource Centre, all year round, confidentially and free of charge. Tutorials can be individual or in groups and are student led. To book a Science Tutorial with Iain, email: sciencetutor@ait.ie.
Emer Connolly – Academic Writing Centre
Emer Connolly joined the Academic Writing Centre in 2018. Emer holds a BA in Irish and Sociological and Political Science, a Higher Diploma in Applied Communications and an MA in Journalism all from NUI Galway and a Postgraduate Diploma in Learning, Teaching and Assessment from AIT. Prior to joining AIT, Emer worked as a lecturer in Journalism and New Media at University of Limerick (2010 – 2015) and NUI Galway (2015 – 2018). At UL, she was the Course Director of the MA in Journalism and the BA in Journalism and New Media.
She has worked as a Journalist for several years in the print, online and broadcast media, on a regional and national level and has regularly appeared on national television and radio. She is the author of two books, ‘Lying Eyes and the Hitman for Hire’ (Gill and Macmillan, 2008) and ‘Out On Bail: The crimes of Ireland’s bail breakers’ (Gill and Macmillan, 2011). She has presented papers at several international conferences and has had research papers published in a range of academic collections. She received three Justice Media Awards from the Law Society of Ireland for her reporting on crime and legal affairs.
Emer is happy to assist with any writing queries through one-to-one sessions or group seminars, workshops and lectures. To book an appointment, email: econnolly@ait.ie.