Women Making History in Children’s Media
ELLEN DOHERTY – Fred Rogers Productions Chief Creative Office
Ellen Doherty is Chief Creative Officer for Fred Rogers Productions, overseeing the development and production of content for all platforms. She serves as executive producer for the company’s current series on PBS KIDS—Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Odd Squad, Donkey Hodie, and Alma’s Way. She also developed Donkey Hodie and Alma’s Way and is the creator, head writer, and executive producer of the award-winning Through the Woods, a short form series about nature also available on PBS KIDS. Ellen was spotlighted in Variety’s 2022 Family Entertainment Impact Report as one of the year’s top content creators, producers, directors, and executives. In 2018, she was nominated for a Primetime Emmy® Award for Mister Rogers: It’s You I Like, the retrospective tribute to the 50th anniversary of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.
A three-time Emmy® Award-winning producer and writer with more than 20 years’ experience in children’s media, Ellen was previously executive producer and story editor of the PBS KIDS series Cyberchase. She oversaw production of television and digital content for the series for six seasons, including creating several shortform video series. Ellen began her career as an associate producer on the beloved PBS KIDS series Reading Rainbow. She has a B.A. in Communications from Boston College and will show you on her hand where she grew up in Michigan.
Lynn Kestin Sessler, Senior Creative Director, Nickelodeon Podcasts, Nickelodeon Unscripted and Digital Franchise Studio @ Paramount
Lynn is a Peabody, Webby and Parent’s Choice Award-winning Producer and Development Executive who is the Senior Creative Director at Nickelodeon, overseeing the creative development and production of Nick’s audio and video podcasts- ranging from preschool ages up through YA.
Lynn has created digital, podcast and TV programming for Nickelodeon, PBS, Netflix, Audible, Noggin, Sesame Workshop, Pinna and Common Sense Media. Lynn is the Co-Vice Chair of the Producers Guild New Media Council Board and is honored to sit on the Children’s Media Association’s Board of Advisors.
Sarah Wallendjack, Vice President, Production and Development at 9 Story Media Group
Sarah Wallendjack is the Vice President of Production and Development as well as an Executive Producer at 9 Story Media Group, a leading producer and distributor of family and kids content. Sarah previously worked at Out of the Blue Entertainment, which was acquired by 9 Story in 2018. She is the Supervising Producer of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood for which she received an Emmy in 2019. She is also an Executive Producer of Super Why! on PBS and is the Executive Producer of Charlie’s Colorforms City on Netflix. Prior to joining the Out of the Blue production team, Sarah was the President of the Children’s Media Association, worked on Nickelodeon’s Wonder Pets!, Disney’s Go Baby! And Disney’s Johnny and the Sprites! She is a graduate of American University’s Visual Media and Arts and Cultural Management programs. She enjoys scuba diving, synchronized swimming, the Muppets, and making things.
Joey Egger, Managing Director, Two Moos/DEPT®
Joey is an Emmy, Peabody, and Webby award-winning kids digital content specialist with 20 years of experience, including Sesame Workshop and ABC Kids. Joey and #TeamMoo are proud to collaborate with the world’s most respected kids’ content creators, non-profits, healthcare and educational specialists to bring their visions to life.
Jennifer Oxley, Snowflake Films, Producer & Director
Jennifer Oxley is an author, illustrator, television writer/director, and songwriter. She is the co-creator of the PBS children’s program Pet+Cat. She was the creative director of Wonder Pets and 3rd & Bird, as well as the animator for the theme song and transitions on Oobi. She has won an Emmy Award and a Humanitas Award for her work on the Nick Jr. show Little Bill. She developed a style of animation called “photo-puppetry” that was used in Oobi, Wonder Pets! and 3rd & Bird. She was a director for many of Little Airplane’s shows.
Oxley has also adapted a number of episodes of Wonder Pets! and Blue’s Clues into books. Jennifer has directed eight short films that appeared on Sesame Street.
