World-class research based on a distinctive, interdisciplinary approach to the natural sciences, social sciences, engineering and technology, and the arts and humanities.
The MU International Office is the first point of contact for international students applying for full-degree, Erasmus, Study Abroad, and Summer School programmes, and supports MU students who wish to study abroad.
I teach across a wide range of children's literature, young adult (YA) literature, youth culture, and English Education. I am General Editor of The International Journal of Young Adult Literature, the Secretary of NAES (the Irish national section of the European Society for the Study of English), and co-founder and chair of the steering committee of MU SexGen, an interdisciplinary network of Maynooth University faculty, students, and researchers who do research on genders and sexualities.
Research Interests
My research interests address a wide range of issues regarding intersections of childhood, young adulthood, and power. I am interested in concepts of childhood, children's and YA literature and youth culture in the nineteenth, twentieth and twenty-first centuries. I especially welcome research collaborations and supervising research in the following areas: genders and sexualities in children's and YA culture and literature; picturebooks (picture books); and global citizenship education.
Research Projects
Title
Role
Description
Start date
End date
Amount
LGBTQIA+ Young-Adult Literature
Principal Investigator
01/07/2023
31/07/2023
1800
Crucial Conversations: Exploring Parental Voice and Parental Rights regarding the Provision of Relationships and Sexuality Education
Principal Investigator
01/05/2023
09/03/2025
4996
Maynooth University Teaching and the Sustainable Development Goals
PI
01/09/2022
30/06/2023
5000
‘Integrating the gender dimension into teaching, learning and educational outreach in initial teacher education’
Co-Investigator
01/09/2021
30/06/2023
19000
‘A collaborative review of Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) pedagogies and practices in a Dublin primary school’.
Co PI
01/09/2022
30/05/2023
4000
‘Free For Whom?’: A Multi-disciplinary Conference on Gender, Sexuality and the Irish Free State 1922-1937’
PI
09/09/2022
09/09/2022
1000
Post COVID 19: the Irish and Scottish youth literature sectors
PI
01/09/2021
22/02/2022
4426.17
‘Integrating the Gender Dimension Into Teaching and Learning’
Co-Investigator
01/10/2021
20/11/2021
2500
'Representing Time and Wordless Picturebooks'
PI
01/03/2020
31/03/2020
3000
'Asexuality in contemporary young-adult fiction'
PI
01/01/2019
30/06/2019
2000
‘Picturebooks and History Education’
PI
01/02/2019
02/03/2019
2400
'Inclusive children’s and young adult literature'
PI
01/01/2019
31/01/2019
300
'Picturebooks and Diversity'
PI
01/01/2020
31/01/2020
1500
'Social justice education and children's literature'
PI
01/06/2019
30/06/2019
1500
Peer Reviewed Journal
Year
Publication
2023
Emily Corbett; Patricia Kennon (2023) ''Editorial''. International Journal of Young Adult Literature, 4 (1):1-4. [Link][DOI]
2022
Alison Waller, Patricia Kennon, and Emily Corbett (2022) ''Editorial''. International Journal of Young Adult Literature, 3 . [Link] http://doi.org/10.24877/IJYAL.109
2021
Patricia Kennon (2021) '‘Asexuality and the Potential of Young Adult Literature for Disrupting Allonormativity’'. International Journal of Young Adult Literature, 2 (1):1-24. [Link] http://doi.org/10.24877/IJYAL.41 [Full-Text]
2020
Kennon, P (2020) 'Reflecting Realities in Twenty-First-Century Irish Children's and Young Adult Literature'. Irish University Review, 50 . [DOI][Full-Text]
2017
Kennon P. (2017) 'Monsters of Men: Masculinity and the Other in Patrick Ness’s Chaos Walking Series'. Psychoanalytic Inquiry, 37 (1):25-34. [DOI][Full-Text]
2016
Kennon, P (2016) 'Childhood, Power, and Travel in Salvatore Rubbino's Picture Books: A Walk in the City'. JEUNESSE: YOUNG PEOPLE, TEXTS, CULTURES, 8 :20-41. [Full-Text]
2015
Dr Patricia Kennon (2015) ''If the Inside was the Outside: Gender, Heteronormativity and the Body in David Levithan's Every Day''. FOUNDATION: THE INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF SCIENCE FICTION, 22 . [Full-Text]
2015
Kennon, P (2015) '"'Little Girls are Even More Perfect When They Bleed"': Monstrosity, Violence, and the Female Body in Kristin Cashore's Graceling Trilogy"'. BOOKBIRD: A JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S LITERATURE, 53 :52-61. [DOI][Full-Text]
2005
Dr Patricia Kennon (2005) ''Belonging in Young Adult Dystopian Fiction: New Communities Created by Children''. PAPERS: EXPLORATIONS INTO CHILDREN'S LITERATURE, 15 :40-49. [Full-Text]
Book Chapter
Year
Publication
2023
Patricia Kennon (2023) ''Using Class Novels'' In: Global Citizenship Education: Curious Teachers, Critical Classrooms. Dublin : Irish Aid. [Link][Full-Text]
2021
Patricia Kennon (2021) 'Zombies Vs Unicorns: An Exploration of the Pleasures of the Gothic for Young Adults' In: Young Adult Gothic Fiction: Monstrous Selves/Monstrous Others. Cardiff : The University of Wales Press. [Full-Text]
2020
Patricia Kennon (2020) '‘Writing Childhood: Young Adult and Children’s Literature’' In: Irish Literature in Transition, Volume 6, 1980-2020. Cambridge, UK : Cambridge University Press. [Link][Full-Text]
2018
Patricia Kennon (2018) '“Superpowers Don't Always Make You a Superhero”: Posthuman Possibilities in Michael Grant’s Gone Series' In: Posthumanism in Young Adult Fiction: Finding Humanity in a Posthuman World. Jackson, Mississippi : University Press of Mississippi. [Full-Text]
2014
Dr Patricia Kennon (2014) '‘Building Bridges To Intercultural Understanding: The Other in Contemporary Irish Children’s Literature.’' In: Our Chums in the Family of Nations: Internationalism in Children’s Series. London : Palgrave Macmillan. [Full-Text]
2013
Patricia Kennon and Ciara Ní Bhroin (2013) ''Introduction'' In: What Do We Tell the Children? Critical Essays on Children’s Literature. Cambridge : Cambridge Scholars Publishing. [Full-Text]
2012
Dr Patricia Kennon (2012) ''Contemplating Otherness: Imagining the Future in Irish Children’s Science Fiction’' In: Irish Children’s Literature: New Perspectives. London : Routledge. [Full-Text]
2007
Dr Patricia Kennon (2007) '‘F(r)ictional Masculinities: The Representation of Manhood in Rosemary Sutcliff’s Roman Britain series of historical novels for young adults’' In: Divided Worlds: Studies in Children’s Literature. Dublin : Four Courts Press.
2006
Dr Patricia Kennon (2006) '‘(W)rites of Passage in Siobhán Parkinson’s Fiction’' In: Mary Shine Thompson and Celia Keenan(Eds.). Treasure Islands: Studies in Children’s Literature. : Four Courts Press. [Full-Text]
Edited Book
Year
Publication
2012
Ciara Ní Bhróin and Patricia Kennon (Ed.). (2012) What Do We Tell The Children? Critical Essays on Children’s Literature. Cambridge: Cambridge Scholars Publishing,
Conference Publication
Year
Publication
2018
Patricia Kennon and Thérèse Hegarty (2018) Citizenship Education: 100 Years On . In: Margaret Nohilly, Bernie Collins, Anne Marie Kavanagh, Seline Keating, Fiona O’ Mahony and Carol O’ Sullivan eds. 50 Picturebooks to Change the World! Dublin, [Link][Full-Text]
Published Report
Year
Publication
2022
Melanie Ramdarshan Bold, Patricia Kennon and Siobhán Morrissey (2022) ‘Building A Youth Literature Community Resilience Framework: Children’s and Young Adult Literature and Sustainable Wellbeing Post-COVID 19’. CBI, . [Link]
2021
Kenny, Michael, Patricia Kennon, Rebecca Maguire, Joost Slingerland, and Susan Gottlober. (2021) ‘Inaugural Report on Maynooth University’s Teaching & Learning’s Engagement with Sustainability and the SDGs’. Maynooth University website, . [Link]
2023
Ciarán Caulfield; Patricia Kennon; Suzanne O'Keeffe. (2023) ‘A collaborative research informed review of whole school Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) practices in a Dublin primary school, supporting pupil and teacher flourishing’. St Fintan's NS, .
Dr Patricia Kennon (2013) Communicating Though Imaginations: Gerda Dendooven and the Rights of the Child Reader. [Electronic Article] [Link]
2013
Dr Patricia Kennon (2013) Time, Space and Childhood: Museums as Cultural and Educational Sites for European Young People. [Electronic Article] [Link]
2012
Patricia Kennon (2012) 'Hats Off to a Storytelling Master: Jon Klassen’s Visual Narratives'. Inis: The Children's Books Ireland Magazine: [Electronic Article] [Link]
2012
Patricia Kennon (2012) 'Making Worlds: Talking Design and Storytelling with the Emberleys'. Inis: The Children's Books Ireland Magazine: [Electronic Article] [Link]
Podcast
Year
Publication
2018
Patricia Kennon, Valerie Coghlan and Claire Dunne (2018) Podcast: “The Representation and Celebration of Females in Children’s Literature”. Dublin: [Podcast] [Link]
Magazine Article
Year
Publication
2022
Patricia Kennon (2022) ‘Youth Literature: A Rich Tapestry of Storytelling’. ReSourceE Magazine Summer 2022: [Magazine Article] [Link][Full-Text]
Video recording / TV
Year
Publication
2023
Sofia Ahlberg, Patricia Kennon, and Katarina Roncevic (2023) ‘Sustainability Education and Inclusion’. [Video recording / TV] [Link][Full-Text]
Conference Contribution
Year
Publication
2024
Patricia Kennon; Suzanne O'Keeffe (2024) Educational Association of Ireland Studies (ESAI) conference ‘Exploring Parental Voice and Parental Rights regarding the Provision of Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) in Irish Primary Schools’ Maynooth University, 04/04/2024-04/04/2024.
2024
Céline Healy; Patricia Kennon; Ann MacPhail; Mariana Amaral-da-Cunha; Irene Kossiva; Frances Rust (2024) Educational Association of Ireland Studies (ESAI) conference ‘An International Collaboration to Capture Teacher Educators’ Professional Identity Through Storytelling in an Online Community of Learners’ Maynooth University, 04/04/2024-04/04/2024.
2023
Patricia Kennon (2023) Gender Equity in Teacher Education webinar ‘Exploring Gender Norms and Discourses in Literature for Young People in Initial Teacher Education’ Online, .
2023
Patricia Kennon, Melanie Ramdarshan Bold, and Siobhán Morrissey (2023) Crossing Expertise Divides Co-creation of Knowledge across Institutions and Communities of Children’ ‘Exploring COVID-19 Impacts on the Scottish and Irish Children’s and Young Adult Literature Sectors and Possibilities for Sharing and Enhancing Practice’ University of Wroclaw, Poland, .
2023
Patricia Kennon and Suzanne O'Keeffe (2023) Educational Studies Association of Ireland conference ‘Creating a Collaborative and Caring Policy for Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) in a Dublin Primary School’ Belfast, .
2023
O'Keeffe, Suzanne and Kennon, Patricia (2023) Educational Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI) Creating A Collaborative and Caring Policy For Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) in an Urban Primary School Belfast, .
2023
Patricia Kennon (2023) Irish Humanities Alliance Arts & Humanities Research & Innovation Showcase ‘Exploring COVID-19 Impacts on the Irish and Scottish Children’s and Young Adult Literature Sectors and Possibilities for Sharing and Enhancing Practice’ Royal Irish Academy, Dublin, .
2023
Patricia Kennon (2023) ‘Sustainability in Teaching and Learning’ workshop ‘Supporting and Enhancing Maynooth University Teaching’s Engagement with the Sustainable Development Goals’ Maynooth University, .
2023
Mariana Amaral-da-Cunha, Céline Healy, Ann MacPhail, Patricia Kennon, Irene Kossiva, Irene, and Frances Rust (2023) International Study Association on Teachers and Teaching ‘Using Storylines in a Community of Practice to Explore and Express Teacher Educator Identities’ Bari, Italy, .
2023
Patricia Kennon (2023) Intersectional Humanities Seminar Series ‘Queerness and Intersectional Identities in Contemporary Irish Children’s and Young-Adult Literature’ Maynooth University, .
2023
Patricia Kennon (2023) Action Research for a Sustainable Future conference ‘Maynooth University Teaching’s Engagement with the Sustainable Development Goals’ TU Dublin, .
2023
Patricia Kennon (2023) Maynooth University Teaching & Learning Fellowship Sharing Event ‘Maynooth University Teaching and the Sustainable Development Goals’ Online, .
2023
Patricia Kennon (2023) ‘Connecting Higher Education, Teacher Training and Schools to Advance Education for the Digital and ‘Key Lessons and Challenges on Integrating Gender Equality in Initial Teacher Education’ Online, .
2022
Patricia Kennon (2022) ‘Impacts of COVID-19 on Scottish and Irish Child and Young Adult Readers’ UCD CHiLD-RC and Children’s Research Network conference UCD, 08/12/2022-08/12/2022.
2022
Patricia Kennon (2022) ‘Children's and YA Literature in Ireland - Developments & Challenges’ Irish Society for the Study of Children’s Literature seminar Online, 18/11/2022-18/11/2022.
2022
Patricia Kennon and Emily Corbett (2022) ‘Publishing with The International Journal of Young Adult Literature’ Young Adult Studies Association conference Online, 02/11/2022-02/11/2022.
2022
Patricia Kennon (2022) ‘Perspectives on YA Studies Publishing’ Young Adult Studies Association conference Online, 02/11/2022-02/11/2022.
2022
Patricia Kennon (2022) Roundtable discussion on strategic planning for Ireland-Scotland research collaborations Royal Irish Academy and Royal Society of Edinburgh roundtable Dublin, 21/10/2022-21/10/2022.
2022
Patricia Kennon and Melanie Ramdarshan Bold (2022) ‘COVID-19 impacts on Irish and Scottish young readers and children’s literature communities’ Children’s Books Ireland conference Dublin, 23/09/2023-23/09/2023.
2022
Patricia Kennon (2022) 'Reading and Wellbeing: Mental Health and Literature for Children and Young Adults’ 2022 ‘Parenting Programme: Supporting Reading’ series of talks, Kildare Libraries Celbridge Library, 24/03/2022-24/03/2022.
2022
Patricia Kennon (2022) ‘Editors Roundtable’ Children’s Literature Association conference Atlanta, USA, 03/06/2022-03/06/2022.
2022
Patricia Kennon (2022) ‘Reading and Wellbeing: Mental Health and Literature for Children and Young Adults’ 2022 ‘Parenting Programme: Supporting Reading’ series, Kildare Libraries Celbridge Library, 24/03/2022-24/03/2022.
2022
Patricia Kennon (2022) 'The Sustainable Development Goals: Teaching and Learning Contexts’ Maynooth University Social Justice Week 2022 Maynooth University, 08/03/2022-08/03/2022.
2022
Patricia Kennon (2022) ‘MU Teaching and Learning and the Sustainable Development Goals’ Maynooth Green Day 2022 Maynooth University, 10/03/2023-10/03/2023.
2022
Patricia Kennon (2022) 'Cultural Diversity and Inclusion in Youth Literature’. This online workshop explores the importance of equitable and authentic representation and global citizenship education in literature for young National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) Annual Conference Online, 16/02/2022-16/02/2022.
2021
Patricia Kennon (2021) Irish Young Adult Literature International Youth Literature module, MLIS, iSChool, San Jose State University, USA Online, .
2021
Patricia Kennon (2021) ‘Integrating the Gender Dimension into Teaching and Learning’ This online panel (funded by the National Forum of Teaching and Learning) involved presentations and discussion about developing an awareness around embedding gender equality across teaching and learning for academics in teacher education Online, 25/11/2021-25/11/2021.
2021
Patricia Kennon (2021) Cognitive Approaches in Young Adult Literature Let’s Talk About Sex in YA conference Online, .
2021
Patricia Kennon (2021) ‘The Representation of Irish Travellers in Youth Literature’ The Irish Society for the Study of Children's Literature 2021 Conversation series Online, .
2020
Patricia Kennon (2020) 'Asexuality and Heteronormativity in Young Fiction' International Women's Day 2020 symposium Maynooth University, 11/03/2020-11/03/2020.
2019
Dr Patricia Kennon (2019) The Irish Publishing Market World Science Fiction Convention Dublin, 15/08/2019-18/08/2019.
2019
Patricia Kennon (2019) Telling Tales for Children Through Art and Pictures World Science Fiction Convention Dublin, 15/08/2019-18/08/2019.
2019
Dr Patricia Kennon (2019) Being Aromantic and the Romance Plot in Young Adult Fiction Researchers Exploring Inclusive Youth Literature conference Glasgow, 08/08/2019-10/08/2019.
2019
Dr Patricia Kennon (2019) Equality and Justice: A Picturebook Workshop Ethical Education Curriculum events Drumcondra Education Centre, Dublin, 11/06/2019-11/06/2019.
2019
Dr Patricia Kennon (2019) Asexuality, Difference and Heteronormativity in Youth Literature Arne Nixon Center for the Study of Children's Literature events California State University Fresno, USA, 25/04/2019-25/04/2019.
2019
Dr Patricia Kennon (2019) 'Diversity and Inclusion in Children’s Literature' Kildare Libraries Reading for Pleasure series Maynooth Community Library, 29/01/2019-29/01/2019.
2019
Dr Patricia Kennon (2019) Worlds of Stories: Exploring Global and Intercultural Issues Through Picturebooks Beyond a Single Story: Intercultural Education Conference Dublin City University, 25/01/2019-27/01/2019.
2018
Patricia Kennon (2018) 'Picturebooks and Development and Intercultural Education' Picturebooks and DICE Dubliin City University, 11/04/2018-11/04/2018.
2016
Patricia Kennon and Anne Dolan (2016) 'Picturebooks and Critical Literacy' Picturebooks and critical literacy Mary Immaculate College, Limerick, 07/12/2016-07/12/2016.
2016
Patricia Kennon and Therese Hegarty (2016) '50 Picturebooks to Change the World!' Citizenship Education: 100 Years On Dublin City University, 12/11/2016-12/11/2016. [Full-Text]
2015
Patricia Kennon (2015) Picturebooks and Intercultural Education Picturebooks and intercultural education Maynooth University, 23/09/2015-23/09/2015.
2015
Patricia Kennon (2015) 'Picturebooks: constructing childhoods and texts for children' Irish Society for the Study of Children's Literature DLR Lexicon, Dublin, 10/04/2015-10/04/2015.
2015
Patricia Kennon (2015) Worlds of Picturebooks: World Book Day Talk on international picturebooks for World Book Day Irish Development Education Association office, Dublin, 06/03/2015-06/02/2015.
2014
Patricia Kennon (2014) 'Young-Adult Science Fiction and Popular Culture' European Science Fiction Society convention (Eurocon) Dublin, 23/08/2014-23/08/2014.
2014
Patricia Kennon (2014) 'Jobs in Young Adult Science Fiction' European Science Fiction Society (Eurocon) convention Dublin, 23/08/2014-23/08/2014.
2014
Patricia Kennon (2014) 'Heteronormativity in David Levithan's Every Day' World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon) London, 17/08/2014-17/08/2014.
2014
Patricia Kennon (2014) 'Picturing Self and Other: Picturebooks and Ways of Knowing' DCU Summer School on Intercultural Studies Dublin City University, 17/06/2014-17/06/2014.
2014
Patricia Kennon (2014) 'Children’s Literature and Irish Curricula' Irish Society for the Study of Children's Literature Maynooth University, 28/03/2014-28/03/2014.
2012
Patricia Kennon (2012) 'Windows and Mirrors: Social Justice in Jeannie Baker’s Picturebooks' Irish Society for the Study of Children's Literature St Patrick's College, Drumcondra, 25/02/2012-25/02/2012.
2011
Patricia Kennon (2011) 'Girlhood, national identity and The American Girl collection' Girlhood and national identity in The American Girl collection of historical fiction Comparative Media Studies, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, 14/11/2011-14/11/2011.
2010
Patricia Kennon (2010) 'Histories, Readers, Audiences' Irish Society for the Study of Children's Literature Trinity College, Dublin, 06/03/2010-06/03/2010.
2010
Patricia Kennon (2010) 'Picturebooks and Social Justice Education' Comhlámh (Irish organisation for global solidarity) Dublin, 13/02/2010-13/02/2010.
2009
Patricia Kennon (2009) 'Travellers and the Irish Nation in Irish Children’s Film and Literature 1990-2009' Biennial Congress of International Research Society for the Study of Children's Literature Frankfurt, Germany, 10/08/2009-10/08/2009.
2008
Patricia Kennon (2008) 'Slashing Harry Potter: fandom and readers writing back' Irish Society for the Study of Children's Literature Coláiste Mhuire, Marino Institute of Education, Dublin, 09/02/2008-09/02/2008.
2007
Patricia Kennon (2007) 'Male subjectivity in William Sleator’s Science Fiction' Irish Society for the Study of Children's Literature Church of Ireland College of Education, Dublin, 23/02/2007-23/02/2007.
2005
Patricia Kennon (2005) '“‘Belonging’ in Young Adult Dystopian Fiction: New Communities Created by Children' Biennial Congress of International Research Society for Children's Literature Trinity College Dublin, 15/08/2005-15/08/2005.
2005
Patricia Kennon (2005) 'The private and the public spheres in Rosemary Sutcliff’s series of historical fiction' Irish Society for the Study of Children's Literature St Patrick's College, Drumcondra, 11/03/2005-11/03/2005.
2004
Patricia Kennon (2004) ‘Rites of Passage and Encounters with the “Other” in Siobhan Parkinson’s Children’s Novel Four Kids, Three Cats, Two Cows, One Witch (Maybe)’ Irish Society for the Study of Children's Literature St Patrick's College, Drumcondra, 21/02/2004-21/02/2004.
Gender Studies Network (European Society for the Study of English)
Representative for Ireland
01/01/2020 - 31/12/2026
Íontas alliance of award-winning higher-education teachers in Ireland
Member
-
International Forum for Teacher Educator Development (InFo-TED)
Member and Irish representative
-
National Association of English Studies
Secretary and committee member
01/09/2019 - 31/12/2026
International Federation of National Teaching Fellows
Member
01/01/2019 - 31/12/2026
Committees
Committee
Function
From / To
Teaching Council Research Engagement Group
Member
01/09/2022 - 01/09/2024
Irish Sexualities and Genders Research Network committee
Member
01/09/2022 -
Royal Irish Academy Study of Languages, Literature, Culture and Communication Committee
Vice Chair
01/09/2022 - 31/08/2026
MU SexGen research network of Maynooth University faculty & researchers on gender and sexualities
Chair of the network's steering committee
01/09/2018 - 01/10/2027
Advisory Group for the Children's Research Network (CRN) of Ireland and Northern Ireland
Member
01/03/2023 -
Editorial / Academic Reviews
Amount
Role
From / To
International Journal of Young Adult Literature
Editor
-
Children's Literature Association Quarterly
Reviewer
-
Irish University Review
Reviewer
-
Children's Literature in Education
Reviewer
-
Journal of Homosexuality
Reviewer
-
Teaching Interests
I teach across a wide range of genres and media regarding children’s literature and YA literature including film studies, picturebooks, comics and graphic novels, science fiction and dystopian literature, and social justice education. I am the module coordinator for the modules EDF130, EDF134, EDF231, EDF235, EDF342, EDF477, EDF488, EDF609, and EDF687. I have been nominated for and have won a range of institutional, national, and international awards for teaching and learning.