Dennis Mulcahy

Dr. Dennis Mulcahy is a Professor in the Faculty of Education at Memorial University of Newfoundland, where he has been since 1988. He holds a B.A. (English) and B.Ed (Secondary Education) from Memorial University, an M.Ed from the University of Toronto (1983), and a Ph.D. (1992) in Curriculum Studies from the same institution. Prior to his academic career, he spent 11 years as a high school English teacher in Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador.

His research focuses on Rural Education and Small Schools, encompassing multi-grade classrooms, small school viability, school closure, distance education, teacher recruitment, and rural policy development. He advocates for the intrinsic value of small schools in sustaining rural communities. Collaborating with Dr. Clar Doyle, he develops curriculum theory courses taught both online and on-campus.

Dr. Mulcahy has held visiting roles at Ohio University, University of Western Carolina, and Charles Sturt University (Australia). His international work includes USAID-sponsored projects in Egypt and engagements in China, Cuba, and South America. He is an active member of the National Rural Education Association and Rural Educator SIG, serving on editorial boards for journals like The Journal of Research in Rural Education.

His work emphasizes public engagement through media and rural community collaboration, prioritizing equitable education access for rural youth. He humorously embraces the phrase, 'we may not be big, but we're small,' celebrating the unique strengths of small schools.