Patrick Burke is an assistant professor in the Institute of Education at Dublin City University, Ireland. He began his career as a primary school teacher and later worked as an advisor with Ireland’s Department of Education professional development services. During his master’s studies, he spent a year at the Children’s Literature Centre at Frostburg State University in Maryland. He completed his doctoral studies at Dublin City University. He is committed to bringing literacy research, policy, and practice together.
In 2025, Burke served as president of the Literacy Association of Ireland, an International Literacy Association affiliate, leading the organization through its successful fiftieth anniversary celebrations. He currently serves as chairperson of Ireland’s Primary Language Development Group, the partnership-based body responsible for national primary language and literacy curriculum development. He serves on the editorial boards of three leading international journals: Reading & Writing Quarterly, Literacy, and Active Learning in Higher Education. In 2026, he was elected to the Royal Irish Academy’s Young Academy, an interdisciplinary organization that brings together early career researchers who work collaboratively for the benefit of society.
Burke’s research focuses on literacy across a range of contexts. He is a founding member of the DCU Centre for Literacy Research, Policy and Practice, where his work on disciplinary literacy in primary and secondary schools has informed curriculum and professional development for teachers in Ireland. More recently, his research has focused on integrated approaches to curriculum, the teaching of the Irish language, and the use of Generative AI to support children’s writing in authentic contexts. Across these roles, he has sought to strengthen connections between literacy researchers, teachers, policymakers, and professional associations.