Biography
Lána is a lecturer in the Literacy Development Centre at Waterford, specialising in Family Literacy and Parental Engagement. She is a Fulbright Scholar 2026-2027. She is a Fellow with the Higher Education Authority and is passionate about teaching, learning, and enhancing the student experience. Lána began her career as a literacy tutor in Ballymun and holds a degree in Further and Adult Education from WIT. She completed a Teacher Education Qualification and a Master's by Research in Family Literacy, funded by the National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA). Lána has also completed a PhD at Trinity College Dublin, funded by the Irish Research Council, where her research developed a theory and conceptual framework for parental engagement in Family Literacy programmes.
Lána has designed and developed numerous Family Literacy initiatives, including the Hug Your Book© programme. Lána created the Family Literacy Community of Practice, partnering with colleagues from SETU, the SOLAS Adult Literacy and Learning (ALL) Strategy Office, and NALA. She has chaired the SOLAS ALL Strategy Office Thematic Family Literacy Group, supporting the implementation of the Government’s Literacy, Numeracy, and Digital Literacy Strategy.
Since 8 April 2024, Lána has been lecturing Level 6 and Level 7 modules at the Literacy Development Centre (LDC) to a diverse cohort of student-practitioners. These modules include Practical Teaching Skills, numeracy, Developing Literacy, Literacy and Society, and Family Literacy at Levels 6 and 7. Much of my current teaching is delivered through outreach modules designed to support learners in understanding, accessing, expanding, and empowering themselves, in alignment with the Adult Literacy for Life Strategy (Gov.ie, 2021).
Current student-practitioners are drawn from a wide range of professional backgrounds, including literacy tutors, primary and secondary school teachers, members of An Garda Síochána, librarians, county council staff, and HSE employees. Many participants are also involved in the Literacy Champion Initiative, established by the Regional Adult Literacy Coordinators to support the goals of the Adult Literacy for Life Strategy (Gov., i.e., 2021).
Teaching this diverse and experienced group is both engaging and demanding, requiring careful planning and delivery. The student-practitioners already hold qualifications relevant to their professional practice, and I ensure that the modules are accessible, build on existing knowledge, and deepen understanding of unmet literacy needs. A strong emphasis is placed on critical reflection, supporting learners in examining their role in society and integrating their learning meaningfully into their professional and community contexts.