Areas of Expertise
Social Change & Transformation, Human Performance Futures, Learning & Skills, Market & Social Research
Contact
Bio
A physical education graduate from Thomond College (University of Limerick), Suzanne Kennedy is currently a lecturer in physical education and sport at Letterkenny Institute of Technology. She holds an MBA in business development from the Ulster of University and has just completed a PhD with the University of Limerick (Other Voices: Women in the Adventure Expedition Space).
Previously as director of the then County Wexford Vocational Education Committee’s Outdoor Education Centre, Suzanne was responsible for the development and delivery of safe education and nature-based practice in the outdoors and the management of the Centre’s residential centre and staff.
She is an active sea kayaker, sailor and mountain biker. Recent expeditions include a sailing/sea kayaking expedition from Argentina to Antarctica, a circumnavigation by sea kayak of the Lofoten Islands in the Norwegian Arctic, a trans-Atlantic sailing voyage to the West Indies, and a trans Himalyan mountain bike journey from Tibet to Nepal, via Everest Base Camp. She also co-lead the first female kayak circumnavigation of the island of Ireland by sea kayak and has kayaked from Wales to Ireland and from Northern Ireland to Scotland.
Research, Innovation & Engagement
Suzanne’s research interests include the sociology of sport, adventure tourism, and nature-based physical activity, and she is particularly interested in developing poststructuralist approaches in sports research. Recent projects include her role as an ethnographer on the EU funded Northern Periphery and Arctic Programme SAINT initiative (Slow Adventure in Northern Territories), and ongoing research on Blueway / Greenway trail development with Irish Leisure Consultants. She has presented her research at several national and international conferences including the International Physical Education Association Conference (AIESEP, Madrid 2017 / Timisoara, Romania 2015) the International Adventure Conference (Western Norway 2015 / Sheffield Hallam, UK 2016 / Institute of Technology Tralee, 2017), and the International Mountain and Outdoor Sports Conference (Charles University, Prague, 2015).
Suzanne is an active member of PETE Ireland (PE Teacher Educators) which engages with the Teaching Council on policy development in physical education and is a member of the Physical Education Association of Ireland, and the PEPAYS research group (PE, Physical Activity and Youth Sport). She is also a reviewer with the Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning and collaborates with fellow lecturers in Ireland and the UK as an external examiner and programme evaluator of third level course programmes.