Michael H. Levine


Michael H. Levine is the founding executive director of The Joan Ganz Cooney Center, an independent research group founded by Sesame Workshop focused on fostering innovation in children's learning through digital media. He was recently appointed as Sesame Workshop’s first Chief Knowledge Officer.

Early life and education

Levine grew up in New York City, where he attended William Cullen Bryant High School. He received a B.S. from Cornell University in Industrial and Labor Relations and a Ph.D. in Social Policy from Brandeis University's Florence Heller Graduate School. While at Cornell he studied with developmental psychologist Urie Bronfenbrenner and was the youngest member of a research team that included current leaders in family support and children's policy programs including Dr. Heather Weiss, founder of Harvard's Family Research Project.

Career

Prior to founding the Cooney Center, Levine served as Vice President of New Media and Executive Director of Education for Asia Society, managing interactive media and educational initiatives to promote understanding of Asia and other world regions, languages, and cultures. Previously, he oversaw the Carnegie Corporation of New York's work in early childhood development, educational media, and primary grades reform as Deputy Chair and Senior Program Officer. Levine also served as a senior assistant to the New York City Schools Chancellor, where he directed dropout prevention, after-school, and early childhood initiatives. In 2014 he was invited to join the inaugural class of Disruptor Foundation Fellows, alongside Common Sense Media founder Jim Steyer and Matthew Stepka of Google.org.

Policy work

Levine has been an adviser to several government agencies including the White House, the U.S. Department of Education, PBS, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and writes frequently for policy-oriented and media industry audiences including , Democracy Journal, and Education Week. He also occasionally appears at public events to speak on the topic of education and media, most notably at in 2010, 2013 BETT Awards, at the Cooney Center's inaugural symposium and, more recently, at the in Sydney, Australia. Through the Cooney Center, Levine has convened forums on education and policy, such as and . Levine serves on numerous nonprofit boards and advisory councils, including Forum for Youth Investment, Teach For America, We Are Family Foundation, , and the Léman School. In April 2014, former Governor of South Carolina Bev Perdue announced her appointment of Dr. Levine to DigiLEARN's Board of Directors.

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