معرفی
Dr. Hazel O'Brien is a Lecturer in Sociology at South East Technological University (SETU) in the Department of Arts, affiliated with the Faculty of Arts and Humanities. She leads the Analysing Social Change (ASC) Postgraduate Forum and contributes to the Spirituality in Society and the Professions Research Group. Her work focuses on qualitative and ethnographic methods, emphasizing marginalized voices and social change. She has authored Irish Mormons: Reconciling Identity in Global Mormonism and co-edited The Study of Religions in Ireland.
Education: PhD from the University of Exeter (2018), M.A. from Maynooth University (2002), and B.A. in Sociology and English from Maynooth University (2001).
Research Interests: Global Mormonism, digital religion, collective memory, minority-majority cultural dynamics, and precarious work. Current projects include exploring Irish Mormonism’s global context, digital religion during crises, and supervising postgraduate research on identity and culture.
Teaching: Coordinates research methods modules for undergraduate and MA programs, including the MA in Social Justice and Public Policy. Teaches sociology across disciplines at SETU since 2008.
Projects: Co-PI on Social & Economic Policies and Irish Work Practices (2017–2021) and collaborator on Omos Aite: Visualising a Sense of Belonging in Gaeltacht na nDeise (2024–2028). Active in editorial roles for Mormon Studies Review and peer review for journals like Child and Family Social Work.
Media Contributions: Engages public discourse on topics such as Irish Mormonism, Celtic Muslim experiences, and race equality through articles and interviews.
