Meet the Team

KRIS PERRY
Executive Director

Kris most recently served as Senior Advisor to Governor Gavin Newsom of California and Deputy Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency where she led the development of the California Master Plan for Early Learning and Care and the expansion of access to high-quality early childhood programs. She led systems change efforts at the local, state and national levels in her roles as executive director of First 5 San Mateo, First 5 California and of the First Five Years Fund. Through it all, Perry has fought to protect children, improve and expand early learning programs, and increase investments in low-income children. Perry was instrumental in returning marriage equality to California after the landmark 2013 U.S. Supreme Court ruling Hollingsworth v. Perry, which she wrote about in her book Love on Trial (Roaring Forties Press, 2017).

DELANY BIRD
Office Administrator

Delany joined the Children and Screens team in 2023 and is involved in assisting with daily operations within the organization. She brings nearly ten years of experience working in education as well as her passion for academics and children to the Institute. She recently settled in Oregon, near family, and enjoys the arts and being outdoors.

KATE BLOCKER, PHD
Director of Research and Programs

Dr. Blocker is a developmental psychologist with a passion for translating scientific research into resources that support holistic, healthy child development. She received her BA in Psychology from the Elon University, followed by a PhD in Experimental Psychology (Developmental Sciences Concentration, Statistics Minor) from the University of Alabama. In addition to her academic background in child development, Kate also has direct experience leading youth development programs in her local community. At the Institute, Kate oversees the interdisciplinary research and public education programs, including the Digital Media and Developing Minds Congress, Ask the Experts webinar series, research retreats, seed grants, and more. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, exploring the great outdoors, playing board games, reading, and spoiling her rescue pup.

KATHARINE BOOTH
Digital Media and Communications Associate

Katharine earned her MS in Public Relations and Corporate Communications from New York University in May, 2023, and her BA in English, with a concentration in Professional Writing, from Fairfield University in 2017. Katharine completed a marketing internship with Children and Screens in the summer of 2022, and began working full-time with the organization in May, 2023. She has a background in freelance writing and copy editing. Outside of work she enjoys reading, drawing, and creative writing.

JILL BRAUNSTEIN
Director of Marketing and Communications

Jill is responsible for planning and executing all marketing strategy, overseeing a wide variety of written and visual content, public presentations, messaging campaigns, internal and external communications, and building partnerships to advance the work of the Institute. Jill brings more than 25 years of non-profit strategic communications to the Institute. Most recently, she served as the inaugural Director of Communications at the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD), an international membership organization that promotes the use of developmental research to improve human lives. Prior to joining SRCD, she was Director of Communications at the National Academy of Social Insurance (NASI), a nonpartisan organization made up of the nation’s leading experts dedicated to working across political and ideological lines to advance understanding of programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and Unemployment Insurance. Jill also spent seven years with the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR), most recently as Director of Communications. Jill earned an MA in Public Policy and Women’s Studies and a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism with a concentration in Speech Communication, both from the George Washington University.

ROBERT C. CHARLES, JD, CPA, MBA
Financial Advisor and Chief Financial Officer 

Dr. Robert C. Charles is a Certified Public Accountant in the state of NC and SC and has a Juris Doctorate degree from the Charlotte School of Law. He spent much of his earlier career working in local and regional CPA Firms in the State of South Carolina and North Carolina. Following his time in public accounting firms he served as the CFO and Controller for a number of large healthcare, non-profit, and governmental organizations in the Carolinas and southeast. He is currently the founder and principal shareholder of Robert Charles, CPA, P.A. and provides consulting services to various entities on tax and accounting matters. He is currently published in the NC CPA Interim Report and the SC CPA Magazine and frequently speaks at CPA Conferences on Professional Development and other technical accounting and tax subjects. He has served as an adjunct accounting professor at Columbia College, Johnson C. Smith University, Midlands Technical College, and other institutions of higher education.

DIMITRI CHRISTAKIS, MD, MPH
Chief Science Officer

Dr. Christakis is the Institute’s inaugural Chief Science Officer. He is also Director of the Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development at Seattle Children’s Research Institute, a pediatrician at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Christakis is a leading expert on how media affects child health and development. He has published dozens of media-related studies and co-authored a groundbreaking book, The Elephant in the Living Room: Make Television Work for Your Kids. His work has been featured on Anderson Cooper 360, the Today Show, ABC, NBC, and CBS news as well as all major national newspapers. Christakis received his undergraduate degree at Yale University and his medical training at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and completed his residency at the University of Washington School of Medicine.

LEVI HASTINGS
Graphic Designer

Levi is an Emmy-nominated illustrator and graphic designer living in Seattle. He is the co-author and illustrator of Washington’s Gay General: The Legends of Loves of Baron von Steuben (Abrams 2023), a graphic novel biography of a forgotten queer icon of American history, written by Josh Trujillo. In addition to his work in publishing, Levi brings nearly 20 years of professional design experience to Children and Screens.

LAUREN HILL
Project Manager 

Lauren received a B.S. in Psychology with minors in Child and Adolescent Development and Diversity and Inclusion from Lasell College, and M.A. in Psychology from Stony Brook University. After graduating in 2018 Lauren joined the Children and Screens team as the Executive Assistant. Highlights included coordinating a 4-day conference, collaborating with staff and interns, and traveling with the Founder and President to inform the public of the latest findings in the field. Lauren re-joined the team in early 2021 and has greatly enjoyed the experience since. Outside of work, Lauren often spends time hanging out with family and friends, exploring the great outdoors, trying new recipes, and when possible, traveling to new places.

DANIEL HIPP, PHD
Project Coordinator

Dr. Daniel Hipp is a dedicated scientist and scholar who is deeply curious about how human minds and brains develop and stay healthy in a world in which screens are everywhere. His research about how video game exposure changes the visual mind earned him his Ph.D. in Cognitive and Brain Science from the Infant and Child Studies Lab at Binghamton University in 2015. More recently, Dr. Hipp developed an innovative and dynamic tool for measuring digital addiction that is both useful for clinicians and capable of adapting to changes in the digital media landscape.  Beyond these scholarly pursuits, he loves Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, snowboarding, his two awesome kids, and the Buffalo Bills.

MARIE JERNIGAN
Assistant Graphic Designer

Marie lives in San Diego and is currently attending college to obtain her bachelor’s degree in graphic design. She initially completed a summer internship with Children and Screens, and officially joined the team in 2022. Marie loves anything art and design related, and her hobbies include visiting art museums, creating art, and attending workshops in her free time.

Melinda Karth, PhD
Research and Programs Assistant

Melinda brings fifteen years of interdisciplinary research experience in neuroscience, media, and psychology to Children and Screens. Most recently, she received her Ph.D. in Behavioral Neuroscience from Purdue University, where she studied the development of eating and anxiety disorders during adolescence. She also holds master’s degrees in media and experimental psychology from The University of Leeds in England and Villanova University. Outside of academia, she has written a blog for Psychology Today called The Neuroscience of Eating Disorders, has guested on several eating disorder-related podcasts to discuss eating disorder development, and has volunteered with the nonprofits BEAT and The Human Health Project. In her free time, Melinda enjoys exploring outside, doing anything music-related, and creative projects.

JOHN MOOTZ, PHD
Senior Policy and Research Manager

Dr. Mootz received his B.A. in Psychology from California State University, Sacramento. He worked as a Research Assistant at Oregon Health & Science University, where he then completed his Ph.D. in Behavioral Neuroscience studying genetic and molecular mechanisms of addiction. During graduate school, John served as an organizer for Graduate Researchers United, helping establish the university’s first researcher union. He coordinates policy and research programs for the Institute, including the Digital Media and Developing Minds Congress: Tools and Methodologies Exposition, and the public health practicum. In his free time he likes cooking and baking, volunteering with conservation organizations, and exploring the Northwest with his dog. John currently lives in Portland, Oregon.

CARRIE MURPHY
Senior Advisor of Strategic Partnerships

Carrie Murphy leads the Institute’s partnership and development strategy to increase support and advance the work of Children and Screens. She brings a combined 20+ years of development and consulting experience in a variety of sectors, including, non-profit, healthcare, biotechnology and education, among others. For the past 7 years, Carrie has provided expertise in development and marketing consulting as Principal Consultant at Cambridge Advancement Partners (CAP), where she partners with a variety of organizations to define and achieve their next-level goals.

Previously, Carrie spent 18 years leading and managing several development departments and teams. It was while serving within these organizations that served women, children, youth and families and in the education space, that she discovered her passion for developing people and organizations to their fullest potential and the power of solving complex social issues through effecting change from a local to global scale. Carrie began her career in Washington D.C. in branding and marketing for Fortune 200 companies, which led to a portfolio management opportunity at Harvard University. Carrie was asked to take on special consulting projects at Harvard Business School, working with prominent professors as an Associate Consultant, across various sectors. This led to her role at Harvard Kennedy School’s Council of Women World Leaders, facilitating policy coalescence for cabinet-level or higher women world leaders. Carrie holds an undergraduate degree from Harvard University with a focus on Social Studies and Economics, attended the Université de Paris Sorbonne (Paris IV) and the Carroll School of Management at Boston College, with a focus on Change Leadership.

CELESTE SCHAEFER SNYDER
Director of Media & Creative

Celeste is a creative media pro who brings a belief in the power of storytelling in all mediums and a passion for children’s health to her work with Children and Screens, where she oversees all creative and educational content and media. Prior to her work with the Institute, Celeste was a senior producer of interactive media with Storyline Productions and a producer and writer of critically-acclaimed feature-length documentary films with Geller/Goldfine Productions. Celeste previously took an extended tour in internet startups as the Director of Product Management at eTranslate, Inc. and a Product Manager for E-greetings Network. Celeste is a longtime active Board member and current Board Chair of Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center, an outdoor education nonprofit in Oregon that brings transformative experiences in nature to youth and adults.