Our People

The Cooney Center is supported by a team of founders, staff, fellows, and advisors, and we work closely with our colleagues at Sesame Workshop. While our collective expertise ranges from developmental psychology and digital media research to media production, we all share a common vision.

Team

Michael Preston, PhD

Executive Director
Bio

Catherine Jhee

Senior Director, Strategic Communications
Bio

Medha Tare, PhD

Senior Director of Research
Bio

Allisyn Levy

Senior Manager, Partnerships & Planning
Bio

Leslie Berkowitz

Senior Coordinator
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Sarah Jacobstein

Project Manager
Bio

Cat Botto

Project Manager
Bio

Colin Angevine

Fellow
Bio

Angelica DaSilva

Fellow for Literacy and Technology
Bio

Liza Gak, PhD

Fellow for Co-Design of Technology with Children
Bio

Diane Gifford, PhD

Senior Literacy Fellow
Bio

Elizabeth Rood, EdD

Senior Fellow
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Mona Leigh Guha, PhD

Senior Fellow
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Amanda Lenhart

Senior Fellow
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Rafi Santo, PhD

Senior Fellow
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Jordan Shapiro, PhD

Senior Fellow
Bio

Board of Directors

Joan Ganz Cooney

Co-Founder and Honorary Lifetime Trustee, Sesame Workshop
Bio

Lloyd N. Morrisett, PhD

Co-Founder and Honorary Lifetime Trustee, Sesame Workshop (1929-2023)
Bio

Sherrie Rollins Westin

President & CEO, Sesame Workshop and Chair, Joan Ganz Cooney Center Board
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David S. Byer

Strategic Advisor
Bio

Esteban Sosnik

Managing Partner, Reach Capital
Bio

Dr. Hina Talib, MD

Pediatrician and Adolescent Medicine specialist
Bio

Ellen Ann Wartella, PhD

Professor; Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani Professor of Communication; Professor of Psychology; Professor of Human Development and Social Policy, Northwestern University
Bio