Associate Professor of Psychology at Arizona State University
Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award ↗ Faculty Profile ↗Founder
An Academic’s Perspective.
A Mentor’s Commitment.
Growing Scholars was founded by Dr. Jinni Su, a professor, developmental psychologist, and mentor who is passionate about supporting aspiring PhD students and future scholars. Growing up in rural China, Jinni was the first person in her family to attend college. She never imagined that she would one day pursue doctoral training in the United States and build a career in academia. Along the way, she benefited from the guidance, encouragement, and generosity of mentors who helped her navigate unfamiliar paths and discover new possibilities. Those experiences shaped her belief in the transformative power of mentorship and inspired her to create Growing Scholars.
Through Growing Scholars, Jinni hopes to share the knowledge, perspective, and support that helped shape her own journey. She believes that thoughtful mentorship can help students not only navigate the PhD admissions process, but also discover their intellectual interests, develop confidence in their abilities, and find academic paths that are meaningful and fulfilling.
Academic Journey
Background & Experience
Education
PhD in Human Development and Family Studies, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, USA
B.S. in Economics, Beijing Normal University, China
Research
Researcher in developmental psychology and behavior genetics with over 60 peer-reviewed articles in top-tier journals.
Teaching
Professor with experience teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in psychology and research methods.
Mentorship
Over 10 years mentoring students at all stages. Over 6 years serving on PhD admissions committees.
Mentorship Philosophy
PhD admissions is not only about gaining entry to a doctoral program—it is about becoming a scholar who contributes to the academic community and the broader world.
My goal is to help students clarify their research interests, develop confidence in their voice, and find meaningful direction in their academic journey.