Kris Perry

Kris is the Executive Director of Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development, an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to helping children thrive in a digital world. Under her leadership, the Institute advances interdisciplinary dialogue, drives scientific research, and delivers accessible evidence-based guidance to families, educators, and policymakers. Perry works closely with federal agencies, state leaders, and national advocates to ensure child and teen-focused digital media, tech, and online safety policy is grounded in science. She also hosts Screen Deep and #Ask the Experts, the Institute’s Webby-nominated programs, featuring conversations with leading voices in child development and digital well-being.

Prior to joining Children and Screens, Perry served as Senior Advisor to Governor Gavin Newsom of California and Deputy Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency where she spearheaded the development of the state’s Master Plan for Early Learning and Care and the expansion of access to high-quality early childhood programs. A longtime champion for equity in early childhood, she also held executive leadership roles at First 5 San Mateo, First 5 California, and at the First Five Years Fund, driving transformative systems change efforts at the local, state and national levels.

In 2024, Kris was inducted into the California Social Workers Hall of Distinction for her outstanding contributions to child-well being. She serves on multiple boards including Raising a Reader, Too Small To Fail, and The Canadian Pediatric Society. 

A nationally-recognized leader, Perry also played an instrumental role in restoring marriage equality to California following the landmark 2013 U.S. Supreme Court decision Hollingsworth v. Perry, a journey she recounts in her book Love on Trial (Roaring Forties Press, 2017). She lives in Berkeley with her wife Sandy where they raised their four sons.

Learn more about Kris via LinkedIn.