In this profoundly engaging episode of the Homebase podcast, we’re honored to welcome Dr. Sara Roldan, a clinical psychologist, educator, and national speaker who has devoted her career to uplifting first-generation college students and young people from diverse backgrounds. A first-generation Guatemalan immigrant, Dr. Roldan has built an impressive career dedicated to mental health advocacy, academic success, and community empowerment. She brings a wealth of experience from her work in Homeland Security, academia, and clinical settings to inspire students to pursue their dreams confidently and develop the essential skills to overcome obstacles in their personal and professional lives.
Dr. Roldan is a mentor and a trailblazer at San Diego State University (SDSU), where she teaches courses designed to help students develop the tools needed for resilience, leadership, and self-care. She is the visionary behind SDSU’s Kaleidoscope of Abilities program, a nine-year initiative that celebrates diversity and promotes inclusion for students with varied abilities. With her groundbreaking work in clinical psychology and passion for pop culture, Dr. Roldan shares unique insights into using fandom and geek culture as therapeutic tools, helping students explore and heal from their struggles innovatively.
Through this episode, Dr. Roldan’s journey from a first-generation immigrant to a respected figure in psychology offers students practical guidance and inspiration for finding strength, empowerment, and success. Her approach centers on self-reflection, resilience, and the courage to forge one’s path—qualities that resonate deeply with young people facing challenges today.
Dr. Roldan’s approach to mental health includes a refreshing perspective on the therapeutic potential of fandom culture. By tapping into fandom, Dr. Roldan helps students use stories and characters from popular media to connect, find validation, and even heal. She explains how fandoms provide a shared experience that can offer comfort, community, and support. Through specific examples, Dr. Roldan illustrates how geek culture, video games, and diverse narratives can become therapeutic tools, allowing students to explore complex emotions in a safe and relatable context. This approach has significantly impacted her students, helping them engage with mental health concepts in a natural and empowering way.
Looking forward to spring 2025, Dr. Roldan introduces her new course, GEN S 250: Mastering the Game: Building Power, Leadership, and Success. Designed as a toolkit she wishes she’d had as a student, the course provides practical skills and self-care practices for first-generation and BIPOC students, empowering them to overcome barriers and lead confidently. This course, Dr. Roldan explains, focuses on leadership development, personal insight, and real-world strategies for success. She describes the course as an interactive and transformative experience where students will explore leadership practices, refine their goals, and build a supportive community. It’s a space where students can explore their potential, gain confidence, and prepare to make a lasting impact in their communities and future careers.
Dr. Roldan’s passion for community and inclusion extends beyond academia. In addition to her role at SDSU, she has presented nationally at Comic-Con, WonderCon, LA Comic-Con, and TEDx, where she speaks on topics such as resilience, geek culture, and the power of diverse narratives. Dr. Roldan has created a platform where mental health, inclusion, and community building intersect by sharing her insights with broader audiences. In the episode, she shares stories from these engagements, offering listeners a window into her mission of connecting with individuals from different backgrounds and empowering them to see themselves as heroes of their journeys.