Keynote Speakers

Keynote speakers for IICE 2012 include:

Dr. Richard Cooper, director of disability services at Harcum College in Pennsylvania.  Richard Cooper, Ph.D., Director and Founder of the Center for Alternative Learning, earned his doctorate in Education at the University of Pittsburgh and a Masters degree in Guidance and Counseling at Inter American University in Puerto Rico. Richard Cooper is also the owner of Learning disAbilities Resources, a firm which produces and distributes educational and motivational materials for individuals with learning differences. He established these organizations to provide services for individuals with learning disabilities and their families, teachers and other professionals interested in learning problems.

Dr. Cooper is the author of a number of books and articles about learning disabilities, problems and differences. His most recent publication is Alternative Math Techniques: When Nothing Else Seems To Work, for elementary school teachers and teachers of special education students of all ages.  He has developed a number of teaching methods and instructional tools for individuals who learn differently and he is internationally known as a speaker and instructor on a wide range of topics about learning problems and techniques for helping both children and adults to improve their skills. 

Center for Alternative Learning

Professor Cynthia Northington-Purdie is a psychologist and professor at an NJ University. Dr Northington-Purdie has taught a variety of courses including educational psychology, applied child psychology, the psychology of classroom management and the philosophical and psychological foundations of education. Before joining the university faculty, she enjoyed a long career as a teacher of both regular and special education in New Jersey’s public schools.

Dr. Patricia Mannix McNamara joined the Department of Education and Professional Studies in the University of Limerick in 1999, prior to which she was a post primary teacher of English, Religion and SPHE. She completed her undergraduate education in the Mater Dei Institute of Education and her postgraduate education at the University of Limerick.

Patricia's research interests currently include evidence-based practice in the field of health education and promotion and in particular the link between the promotion of health in schools and educational outcomes. She is also interested in bullying and its impact on health and well being. Patricia teaches research methods and health promotion in Ireland and abroad at undergraduate and postgraduate levels and has supervised a wide range of MAs on topics ranging from bullying, SPHE, school health, health promotion and disability to mental health promotion and HP practitioner competencies. 

Patricia is co-director for the Research Centre in Education and Professional Practice (RECEPP). In this role she supports Professor Marie Parker Jenkins who is director of RECEPP and Education Chair. Patricia is also leading a collaborative international research project in Europe with Professor Didier Jourdan (University Blaise Pascal France).