We’re working together to carry forward the “deep and simple” legacy of Fred Rogers in all that we do.
ROBERTA SCHOMBURG, PH.D.
Interim Executive Director
Dr. Roberta Schomburg is the Executive Director of the Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children’s Media at Saint Vincent College. Her background in child development and early learning led her to work with Fred Rogers beginning in 1982 on a project to support early childhood professionals who were using the Mister Rogers Neighborhood television program in their child care homes or classrooms. The work expanded to include various professional development projects at Family Communications, Inc. (now Fred Rogers Productions) From 2006-2014, Roberta was a Senior Fellow at the Fred Rogers Center. She and Senior Fellow Dr. Chip Donohue from the Erikson Institute co-authored the joint FRC/NAEYC position statement, Technology and Interactive Media as Tools in Programs that Serve Young Children from Birth through Age 8. She was Vice President of the NAEYC Governing Board from 2010-2014. Roberta holds a Ph.D. in Administrative and Policy Studies from the University of Pittsburgh with a specialization in child development. She is Professor Emerita at Carlow University in Pittsburgh where she taught for 25 years and was an associate dean and director of the School of Education. She continues in her role as consultant to Fred Rogers Productions and is an advisor for Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.
DANA WINTERS, PH.D.
Director of Simple Interactions and Academic Programs; Assistant Professor of Child and Family Studies
As the Director of Simple Interactions and Academic Programs for the Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children’s Media, Dana Winters seeks to apply and advance the legacy of Fred Rogers in serving children and their helpers. Through projects involving children’s helpers across many diverse settings, including child care, school systems, community programs, residential care, and children’s hospitals, she communicates and reflects what is simple and deep about work in service of children and their families. Dana supervises the Center’s research lab, Incubator 143, which partners with educators, trainers, advocates, and researchers to focus on identifying and amplifying the simple active ingredient that universally helps serve children—the power of human connection. She joined the Center after serving as the Senior Evaluator for the Collaborative for Evaluation and Assessment Capacity at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Education, and as an Education Counselor with the Educational Opportunity Centers of Penn State University. Dana holds a Ph.D. in administrative and policy studies from the University of Pittsburgh, a M.A. in education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and a B.A. in sociology from Saint Vincent College.
KAREN STRUBLE MYERS, CFRE
Associate Director and Director of Development
As Associate Director and Director of Development, Karen Struble Myers oversees multifaceted fundraising and communications plans designed to promote and support the mission and programs of the Fred Rogers Center. She is responsible for annual giving, major gifts, grant writing, special events, brand and content strategy, external relations, publications, social media and e-communications. Additionally, she provides operational assistance through budgeting, strategic and programmatic planning, and partnerships. A graduate of Penn State University, she holds a B.A. in Advertising-Public Relations, and minors in Speech Communication and Business. Karen received an M.S. in Professional Leadership, Training, and Development from Carlow University. She is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE), serving as a frequent lecturer and community advisor on annual fund strategies and branding, and has nearly 20 years of experience in nonprofit development and marketing roles in the performing arts, religion, health care, and public policy.
EMMA LEE, M.ED.
Senior Program Associate
As Senior Program Associate, Emma Lee supports Simple Interactions and other special projects and initiatives of the Fred Rogers Center. Her work reaches across the research, policy, and practice sectors in early childhood, K-12 education, and social services to support the interactions and relationships that help children thrive. Before joining the Center, Emma worked at the RAND Corporation as a Policy Analyst. Her work included research, evaluation, and technical assistance for projects in early childhood and K-12 education in both rural and urban settings. She holds an Ed.M. in Human Development and Psychology from Harvard University and a B.A. in Psychology from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
ANNIE WHITE, PH.D.
Senior Research Associate
As the Senior Research Associate, Annie seeks to extend the legacy of Fred Rogers by learning from and working with educators to support their everyday interactions with children, families, and communities. She leads and contributes to ongoing Simple Interactions research and professional learning efforts across developmental contexts, including out-of-school learning, museums, childcare, school, and others. In addition, Annie works with student researchers at the Center’s research lab, Incubator 143. Annie previously ran an extended day program for children ages 3-9 and was a research fellow at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. Annie holds a Ph.D. in Applied Developmental Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh, a Masters in Applied Developmental and Educational Psychology as well as a BA in Elementary Education and Human Development from Boston College.
KATE LUCHINI
Simple Interactions Project Assistant
As the Project Assistant for Simple Interactions, Kate creates and designs innovative marketing materials, and artistically enhances program materials for electronic and print media for the Simple Interactions Project and the Fred Rogers Center. Her responsibilities at the Center include creating illustrations, web design, animation, video editing, film, equipment management and photography. A graduate of Saint Vincent College, she holds a B.A. in both Graphic Design, and Communications – Public Relations and Advertising. She has gained a wide range of design experience through her schooling and past internships such as the UPMC Summer Associates Program for Creative Services.
EMILY UHRIN
Archivist
As Archivist, Emily Uhrin oversees the cataloging, indexing and organization of materials related to Fred Rogers’ personal and professional life, formulates and implements archival usage and access policies, and manages the collection of digitized print and video materials in the Fred Rogers Archive. Emily is a 2005 graduate of Saint Vincent College where she studied English and worked in the library as a student assistant. Her enjoyment of library work led her to the School of Library and Information Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh. She received her M.L.I.S. in 2007 with a concentration in Archives and Records Management. While studying at Pitt, Emily worked for the Fred Rogers Center as an intern, completing an inventory of files that were housed at Family Communications, Inc. She also worked at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History Library to gain field experience.
THERESA NOEL
Operations Coordinator
As Operations Coordinator, Theresa Noel supports the daily operations of the Fred Roger Center. She provides general support to the Center’s professional staff including greeting visitors, scheduling, making travel arrangements, financial processing, and other office duties. She is instrumental in the coordination of a variety of conferences and symposia such as Fred Forward. Prior to joining the Fred Rogers Center staff, Theresa was employed by the Greater Latrobe School District as a personal assistant providing learning support services. She also has extensive experience working in office administration in private education.