They scurry around the department to classes, labs, and seminars. We see them present and read their reaction papers. Let’s take some time to learn about the people behind the PowerPoints. Graduate students are essential to the research enterprise and valued members of any department with a graduate program. The goal of the “meet the graduate students” series is to learn more about the experiences of these key players in the Department of Psychology at UNCG.
Let’s meet one of our (at the time of this article) second year students, Aaron Goldman. Aaron began at UNCG in the Fall 2024 semester. He works with Dr. Chris Wahlheim and is enrolled in the Psychology M.A. program. Aaron earned his undergraduate degree in psychology with a minor in political science from UNCG.
Path to and Experiences in Graduate School
What inspired you to begin graduate studies?
I started as an undergraduate research assistant and loved the idea of contributing to a growing body of knowledge. Specifically, researching misinformation gave me a much-needed sense of agency in an uncertain political climate.
Can you describe your research area and interests?
I research memory and beliefs as they relate to misinformation. More specifically, I’m interested in how political factors like partisan affiliation and ideological source cues may moderate false beliefs and the effectiveness of corrections.
What is something you’ve accomplished at UNCG of which you’re especially proud?
I would say my proudest moment here was presenting at GRC. Like most people, public speaking can be very difficult for me, so being able to talk about my research on stage in front of the entire department despite my nerves was one of the most gratifying experiences of my life.
[Editorial note: GRC stands for Graduate Research Colloquium. All second year students give a presentation to the entire department on their research conducted during their first year in the graduate program. Every year, the students rise to the occasion and impress us all!]
What advice would you give to students aspiring to attend graduate school?
The point of going to graduate school is to immerse yourself in the things you don’t yet understand. If you already knew how to do graduate-level work, you wouldn’t need to be here in the first place. Embrace not knowing things and always be open to learning from those around you.
Fun Facts!
Where are you from?
I was born in Long Island, NY, and then moved to NC and grew up in Wilmington!
What do you like to do outside of school?
I like to play video games with my friends and listen to music!
What’s something most people don’t know about you?
I love old-school arcade games like pacman and galaga. I’ve recently been getting into collecting tiny playable arcade cabinets with those types of games.
Could you share a favorite movie, book, or band that you would recommend to others?
If you like songs from other countries then I definitely recommend checking out Primavera Club! They’re a band from Mexico with a really unique style and some j-pop influence.
