Denise MacDermott joined Ulster University in 2013 as a lecturer in social work. She completed her social work degree at the University of Strathclyde in 2003.

During this time, Denise was employed by the Northern Ireland Association for the Resettlement of Offenders (NIACRO) as a Project Worker and later a Senior Practitioner for a regional Mentoring programme.  In 2008, she took up the post of Practice Learning Centre Manager with Bryson Care. In 2012, Denise completed her Masters in Professional Development in social work and holds her professional Leadership and Strategic award in social work which she obtained in 2015. Denise is the external examiner for social work at University of South Wales.

Denise is committed to promoting civic engagement and volunteering. In 2009, she took up the position of Chairperson for Le Cheile Youth Justice Support Services based in Dun Laoghaire. More recently she has been actively involved in fundraising projects to tackle food poverty in the North West in partnership with the Churches Trust and the Ulster University Stand Up for Social Work Society.

Currently, Denise is the Course Director for the BSc (Hons) in social work which is a full time three year programme taught at the Magee campus. She is a reviewer for Social Work Education International Journal. Denise is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a certified Nearpod Educator.

Research Interests

• Service users, carers and survivors’ involvement within social work education.
• Professional supervision in social work.
• Flipped classroom pedagogies in social work.

Innovations

• Creative assessments within social work programme.
• No risk peer and lecturer feedback model.
• Community Engagement Roadshows (pilot project)

Teaching

Denise contributes to both undergraduate and post graduate teaching in social work at Ulster.