Zehra Kaplan received her bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Boğaziçi University in 2012. Following her graduation, she worked as an early childhood and primary school teacher, as well as an English teacher, in various private schools. She completed her master’s degrees in Early Childhood Education and Classroom Teaching at Istanbul University and Yıldız Technical University. In 2020, she began her doctoral studies in the Learning Sciences program at Boğaziçi University. Her academic interests include teacher identity, adult education, social and emotional learning, classroom management, and play.

After graduating from Istanbul University, Faculty of Art and Science, Department of Guidance and Psychological Counseling in 1997, Göl-Güven earned her master’s degree from the Human Development College, the Department of Child and Family Studies at Syracuse University and completed her Ph.D. at Penn State University, College of Education, Department of Curriculum and Instruction. She holds a faculty position at Boğaziçi University, Faculty of Education, Department of Primary Education, Program of Early Childhood Education where she has served as associate professor since 2006. She has been working with teachers to promote social and emotional skills in children and children's play at school settings. School and program evaluation and pre-service and in-service teachers’ training are her interest areas. She has been conducting studies in collaboration with NGOs to support adults to develop good relationships with children, to build supportive environments with children, and to develop programs for early childhood settings. Dr. Göl-Güven has been an active member of Peace Education Application and Research Center at Boğaziçi University between 2008 and 2023 and the International Play Association and European Network for Social and Emotional Competence since 2008. She defines herself as a child-friendly researcher who advocates for/with children to play, communicate, interact, and build relationships.