When Rahma Goran first arrived at Temple University as a school psychology doctoral student, she knew she wanted to make a difference in the lives of children and adolescents. What she didn’t know was exactly what that path would look like or just how much she would grow along the way.
Now entering her fifth year in the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD), Goran discusses Temple’s Future Faculty Fellowship that gave her the time, support and confidence to discover not only the kind of researcher she wanted to become, but also the kind of mentor and future faculty member she hopes to be.
“I was drawn to school psychology because it brings together many of the things I care about—mental health, education, equity, family systems and prevention,” Goran said. “I’ve always been interested in understanding how children and adolescents make sense of themselves and their experiences, especially within schools where so much of their development takes place.”
As a Black Muslim woman and the daughter of immigrants, Goran says she entered graduate school with a deep appreciation for cultural humility and a desire to conduct research that honors the lived experiences of children and families. “Temple felt like a meaningful place to pursue that work because of its commitment to applied research, urban education and culturally responsive practice,” Goran said.
Receiving the fellowship, which is designed to support aspiring faculty, at the same time as her admission to the doctoral program was both exciting and affirming for Goran.
“It felt like Temple saw my potential not only as a graduate student, but also as a future scholar and mentor," she said. "Graduate school is such a long journey and having that support from the beginning helped me imagine a future in academia more clearly.”
For Goran, one of the fellowship’s most valuable opportunities has been the protected summer research support, which enables her to devote the summer months to her own research ideas. This allows Goran to engage daily with research projects, an experience she says has fundamentally shaped her development.
“Honestly, I feel like this protected time is a huge reason I’ve been able to design and conduct large research projects during my time at Temple,” she said. "It gave me the space to really think, ask questions and grow into my own scholarly voice.”
Working with Associate Professor Xu (Lilya) Jiang in the Development of Psychological Strengths in Youth (DePSY) Research Lab, Goran has explored topics including adolescent mental health, coping, growth mindsets, school functioning, parent-adolescent relationships and family-school partnerships. Those experiences also helped her secure a student research grant and develop the confidence to pursue ambitious projects.
While research has been central to her graduate experience, Goran says the fellowship has taught her that being a faculty member is about much more than publications.
“It has encouraged me to think intentionally about mentorship, teaching, service and the values I want to bring into academia,” she said. “Faculty work isn’t only about producing research. It’s about creating spaces where students, families and communities can be seen, supported and understood.”
Like many doctoral students, Goran has navigated the challenge of balancing multiple roles at once: student, clinician, researcher, teacher and mentor. Looking back, she says one of her proudest accomplishments has been learning to trust herself throughout that process.
“I’ve learned to take up space with more confidence while still remaining reflective, humble and open to growth,” she said. “I'm proud that I've stayed connected to my values while continuing to grow as both a researcher and clinician.”
As she looks toward a career in academia, Goran hopes to become the kind of faculty member who helps students recognize their own potential, just as others have recognized hers.
“I want to be someone who listens, supports students’ growth and takes their ideas seriously,” she said. “Especially for students who may not always see themselves reflected in academia.”
“You don't have to have everything figured out,” she said. "Be honest about your goals, stay connected to your ‘why’ and seek out mentors who believe in you. Being supported and believed in is part of how you become ready.”