After years of teaching, mentoring, researching and advocating, Associate Professor Carol Brandt and Professor Cathy Fiorello are preparing to close an important chapter in their lives at Temple University's College of Education and Human Development (CEHD).
Although they worked in different education fields, both spent their careers asking a similar question: How can we better support students?
For Brandt, the answer often involved helping future teachers see learning through new perspectives. For Fiorello, it meant understanding children as whole people and ensuring they received the support they needed to succeed. Together, they have influenced generations of educators, psychologists and leaders who will continue carrying those lessons forward long after their retirement.
Carol Brandt
Brandt shares that some of the most meaningful moments of her career came when students began to see education through a broader lens. Rather than viewing teaching solely as the delivery of academic content, they came to understand its power to strengthen communities, address inequities and create opportunities for others.
In 2016, she and her school colleague, Anita Brook-Dupree, were preparing for another year of their elementary science education course when they realized something was missing. Science was important, but they wanted future teachers to see how it connected to the lives of the children they would someday serve.
That realization led them to redesign their courses around science and social justice.
What happened next changed the way Brandt thought about teaching.
Students began exploring issues such as clean water, healthy food and environmental safety. They examined how science could help address challenges facing communities and how educators could make learning more meaningful for their students.
“We were thrilled when students responded positively," Brandt recalled. "The approach opened their minds to re-thinking schooling in general.”
One student's reflection has stayed with her.
“‘I never knew that science was rooted in social justice,’” Brandt said the student told her. “‘But really,’” she said they added, “‘science is about clean water, healthy food and safe environments.’”
Moments like that reinforced what Brandt had always believed—education has the power to expand how people understand the world and their place within it.
That philosophy shaped much of her work as a science educator and researcher. Throughout her career, she explored how people learn in classrooms, museums, after-school programs and community spaces, always looking for ways to create more equitable learning experiences. Her research earned support from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and contributed to conversations about science education both nationally and internationally.
Yet when she talks about her career, Brandt returns not to grants or publications, but to students.
One of the most difficult moments of her career came when a student she had mentored closely passed away. The experience was deeply heartbreaking.
“He showed great promise,” Brandt said.
The experience deepened her commitment to helping students discover their strengths and imagine the impact they could have in the world. In the years that followed, she found purpose in creating opportunities for students to engage in meaningful conversations about identity, community and social change.
As she prepares for retirement, Brandt hopes people remember her as someone who cares deeply about both equity and kindness.
“I hope they remember me as committed to equity and teaching as a service to improve the lives of our students,” she said.
And if there's one piece of advice she would leave with future educators, it's to teach with passion and purpose.
“The days are long, but the years are short,” she said. “You will learn as much about yourself as you will about your students.”
Cathy Fiorello
Ask her what stands out most from her career, and Fiorello won't point to the various awards, publications or leadership roles she has accumulated. She talks about people.
She talks about former students who are now making a difference in schools, hospitals and universities. She talks about families who trusted her with their children's stories. She talks about the relationships that made the work meaningful.
“I am so proud when I see my former students, now as alumni doing wonderful work out in the world,” she said. “Especially when I see the commitment to social justice and equity that they bring.”
Over the years, Fiorello became one of the most respected voices in school psychology. Her scholarship on assessment and school neuropsychology has helped shape important conversations about how professionals identify and support students with learning differences. She also served in leadership roles across national organizations and became a trusted advocate for comprehensive assessment practices.
But her reputation wasn’t built on expertise alone.
Throughout her career, as a licensed psychologist, Fiorello worked to ensure that every child she evaluated, and every student she mentored felt understood.
“So often in practice, parents said, ‘You know my child so well and you only spent a few hours with them,’” she recalled.
Those moments reminded her that effective assessment begins with listening.
The same principle guided her work with her CEHD graduate students.
“I always strive to be a safe person and provide a safe space,” she said.
Students often came to her not only for guidance on coursework or research, but also for support during difficult moments. Building those relationships became one of the most rewarding parts of her career.
Of course, helping professions come with challenges. Fiorello learned early on that caring deeply sometimes means carrying difficult stories with you. Yet those experiences also reinforced an important lesson. While it is easy to focus on what still needs to be done, it is just as important to pause and recognize the difference you are making along the way. One lesson she hopes younger professionals embrace is the importance of recognizing their successes.
“Don't just take successes for granted,” she said. “Take credit for them. Accept compliments.”
As retirement approaches, Fiorello stated, “I hope they remember me as empathetic and caring first.”
Her advice for future psychologists reflects the same belief that has guided her entire career.
“Never forget that relationships are the basis of this field,” she said. “Compassion and caring are at the heart of this work.”
Leaving a Lasting Impact
While Brandt and Fiorello dedicated their careers to different disciplines, both leave Temple with the same enduring legacy—a commitment to people.
Whether helping future teachers connect learning to issues of justice or helping future psychologists understand the importance of compassion, both faculty members challenged students to look beyond theories and techniques and focus on the human beings at the center of their work.
Their classrooms, offices and mentorship have shaped so many individuals in diverse settings. And although their time at Temple is coming to a close, the lessons they shared and the people they inspired will continue making an impact for years to come.