Donal Howley, Ph.D.

he/him/his

Assistant Professor

Name

Contact Info

Phone:
410-704-2074
Office:
Burdick Hall, 121U
Email:
dhowley@towson.edu
Hours:
Wed, 1-3 p.m.

Education

Ph.D. Kinesiology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 2022
Ma. Sc. Physical Education, University of Limerick, Ireland, 2018
Ba. Sc. Physical Education, University of Limerick, Ireland, 2012

Areas of Expertise

Teaching Interests: Physical Education and Sports Pedagogy, Teacher Education

Research Interests: Physical Education, Physical Activity, and Youth Sport, Curriculum and Pedagogy, Social and Emotional Learning, Student/Youth Voice, Qualitative Research

Biography

Dr. Donal Howley trained at the University of Limerick and prior to joining Towson University practiced as a high school Physical Education and English teacher in Ireland and the USA. He currently teaches secondary methods to pre-service teachers and supervises part-time and capstone internships in the Physical Education Teacher Education program. He conducts research across K-12, higher education, and older adult settings locally, nationally, and internationally. He has led and contributed to 18 peer-reviewed publications, 9 international presentations, and 27 national conference presentations.

Select Publications & Research Highlights

  • Howley, D., Dyson, B., & Baek, S. (2023). Stepping Back, Stepping Up, and Stepping Forward: Exploring One Teacher’s Evolving Approach to Teaching Social and Emotional Learning in High School Physical Education. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education (Advanced Online Publication), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1123/jtpe.2023-0077
  • Howley, , D. (2022). Talking the Talk, Walking the Walk: Six Simple Strategies for Enacting Student Voice in Physical Education. Strategies, 35(6), 38–40. https://doi.org/10.1080/08924562.2022.2120350
  • Howley, D., Dyson, B., Baek, S., Fowler, J., & Shen, Y. (2022). Opening up Neat New Things: Exploring Understandings and Experiences of Social and Emotional Learning and Meaningful Physical Education Utilizing Democratic and Reflective Pedagogies. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(18), 1-17.  https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191811229
  • Howley, D., Dyson, B., Baek, S., Fowler, J., & Shen, Y. (2021). “This Is Not Gym”: Enacting Student Voice Pedagogies to Promote Social and Emotional Learning and Meaningful Physical Education. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 307, 1-15.  https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2021.764613 
  • Howley, D. (2021). Experiences of teaching and learning in K-12 physical education during COVID-19: An international comparative case study. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, Advanced Online Publication, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/17408989.2021.1922658
  • Howley, D., & O’Sullivan, M. (2021). ‘Getting better bit by bit’: Exploring learners’ enactments of student voice in physical education. Curriculum Studies in Health and Physical Education, 12(1), 3–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/25742981.2020.1865825
  • Howley, D., & O’Sullivan, M. (2020). “You’re Not Going to Get It Right Every Time”: Teachers’ Perspectives on Giving Voice to Students in Physical Education. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, 1(aop), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1123/jtpe.2019-0142

Awards

  • Faculty Academic Center of Excellence at Towson Scholars Program Award 2023
  • Mary Channing Coleman Scholarship Award 2022
  • Pearl Berlin Graduate Student Writing Award 2021 
  • Kate R. Barrett Student Professional Development Award 2021

Courses Taught

  • KNES 325 Teaching Physical Education in Secondary School