Professor Michelle MacLeod

Biography

I have worked at the University of Aberdeen since September 2004 and was promoted to Personal Chair in Gaelic in 2019. 

I teach and carry out research in areas related to Scottish Gaelic language and culture. I am passionate about multilingualism and inter-cultural communication and have attempted to learn a number of other languages to various degrees of success.

I have held various leadership positions at the University, including a spell as Interim Head of School of Language, Literature, Music and Visual Culture and Director of the Confucius Institute. I am currently Dean for Impact and Engagement.

Prizes and Awards

In 2021 I won the Donald Meek Prize for the best non-fiction Gaelic book Fichead Bliadhna air An Ard-urlar / A Century of Gaelic Drama published by the Association for Scottish Literary Studies.

In 2022 I was one of three AHRC Future of Languages Research Fellows.

In 2024 I was honoured to win the Students' Union & University of Aberdeen Prize for Most Inspirational Lecturer.

Research Overview

I am accepting PhDs in Gaelic studies, language planning and applied linguistics.

My areas of research include: modern Gaelic literature; the concept of Gaelic identity; the modern Gaelic community; Gaelic drama; language teaching and language planning.

Current Research

Gaelic drama, modern Gaelic literature, community language planning and adult language acquisition.

Knowledge Exchange

I have been appointed by the Scottish Government as a board member of Bord na Gaidhlig: the non-departmental public body with responsibility for promoting Gaelic and overseeing the implementation of the National Plan for Gaelic.

Collaborations

I recently collaborated with colleagues in Sabhal Mor Ostaig and Comunn na Gaidhlig to establish a pilot network for community language development officers.

Teaching Responsibilities

 I teach Gaelic language across the degree programme and sub-honours introductory courses on Gaelic society and literature.  I also teach honours courses on: Modern Gaelic Poetry, Gaelic Dialectology, Modern Irish Language and Language and Identity.