Dr Tanya Dean is a Lecturer and Programme Coordinator of the B.A. (Hons) in Drama (Performance) at the Technological University Dublin Conservatoire. She completed her Doctor of Fine Arts in 2016 at Yale School of Drama (now the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale), where she also received her Master of Fine Arts in Dramaturgy and Dramatic Criticism in 2011. 

Her writing has appeared in JMIR Medical Education, Irish Journal of Arts Management and Cultural Policy, Theatre History Studies, and numerous edited collections. Editorial experience includes roles as the Assistant Editor of Theatre Research International, former General Manager for Irish Theatre Magazine, and co-Managing Editor for Theater magazine. From 2015-2017, Tanya served as a committee member for #WakingTheFeminists, and was a Research Associate on the report, Gender Counts: An analysis of gender in Irish theatre 2006-15. 

Tanya's teaching and research interests include dramaturgy, playwriting, feminist theatre, stage adaptations of fairy tales, contemporary and modern Irish theatre, and performance practice.

Tanya has worked extensively as a freelance dramaturg on numerous scripts, workshops and productions in Ireland, the UK, the USA, and Iceland. From 2020-21, Tanya served as one of the judges for the Irish Times Irish Theatre Awards. Tanya is a board member for Rough Magic Theatre Company, and she is currently working as Script Associate in the Literary and New Work Department of The Abbey Theatre, the National Theatre of Ireland.