CSS Announces New Board Members
The Center for Scholars & Storytellers (CSS) has announced a new board of directors. In line with our commitment to youth representation and bridging the gaps between media and research, we are proud to have board representation from entertainment industry professionals, academic experts, and Gen Z:
Gael Aitor (LinkedIn ❘ Instagram) Gael Aitor is an award-winning podcast producer and the creator of the "Teenager Therapy" podcast, which boasts over 1 million followers. He has hosted high-profile guests including Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Adam Mosseri, and U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Murthy. Aitor's work has been recognized by several major publications, including the New York Times, TeenVogue, Time100, and Variety. He’s also been a featured speaker at events such as the Aspen Ideas Festival, YMS LA, and HLTH. Additionally, Aitor is the co-founder of Astrolescence (Prev. Astro Studios), a creative company dedicated to supporting youth mental well-being through media and IRL spaces.
Ahrash N. Bissell (LinkedIn) Ahrash N. Bissell, Ph.D., is the President and Chief Academic Officer of The NROC Project, a national, non-profit organization that collaborates with educators and partner institutions to build technologies that improve student success. For much of the prior decade, Dr. Bissell co-designed and managed the development for EdReady, a platform for personalized learning that is helping to substantially improve student readiness for college and career aspirations nationwide. Dr. Bissell continues to coordinate research, advocacy, and innovation activities related to open educational practices, educational technologies, and sustainability, both internally and in collaboration with projects and colleagues across the field. Dr. Bissell also serves on the boards of Peer to Peer University, QUBES, and the Center for Scholars and Storytellers, with special focus on science and math (STEM) disciplines, open educational resources (OER), and data-sharing. Previously, he served as the founding Executive Director of the education program at Creative Commons, where he helped to establish best practices in OER production and utilization as well as document some of the emerging opportunities and challenges (especially in legal doctrine) for the field. Dr. Bissell also served as the Assistant Director of the Academic Resource Center and a Research Associate in Biology at Duke University, and as an Instructor at several universities. He has a Ph.D. in Evolutionary Biology from the University of Oregon and a BS in Biology from the University of California, San Diego. He resides in Berkeley, CA.
Jennifer Blum (LinkedIn) Jennifer Blum has more than 25 years experience as a film producer and executive. Her credits include Academy Award nominee, "The Help," as well as "I Love You, Beth Cooper," and "Jingle All the Way." Blum was most recently Executive Vice President at 1492 Pictures, working with Chris Columbus and team managing the company’s slate for over 20 years. Among the projects she worked on were "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone," "Night at the Museum," "Cheaper By the Dozen," "Stepmom" and "Nine Months." Blum previously worked at Morra, Brezner, and Steinberg, a management and production company that featured Robin Williams and Billy Crystal. While there, Blum optioned the novel that became the movie "Angie," worked on "Mrs. Doubtfire," and "The Vanishing." A native of New York City, Blum is a graduate of Wellesley College. She is an avid skier, tennis player and traveler. She lives in Santa Monica with her family and adorable but noisy dog, Charlie.
Susanne Daniels (LinkedIn) Susanne Daniels is an award-winning entertainment executive who has worked across broadcast, cable and digital networks. As Global Head of Original Content for YouTube over the past seven years, Daniels was responsible for leading the company’s international efforts and investments in original content, including programming strategy, development, and oversight of all production of series and films featuring some of YouTube’s most successful creators and personalities. Prior to joining YouTube, Daniels served as President at MTV Networks, President of Lifetime Television Networks and President of The CW Network (which she helped found). Daniels is currently a professor at the UCLA Anderson school of management where she lectures on the macroeconomics of the streaming business.
Nancy Kanter (LinkedIn) Nancy Kanter is a 20 year veteran of The Walt Disney Company where she was Executive Vice President of Content and Creative Strategy for Disney Channels. After leaving Disney in 2021 she joined Netflix under an exclusive overall production deal. In 2024 she launched her independent company, Available Light Productions, with a focus on kids and family content.
Navia Robinson (Instagram) Navia Robinson is an 18-year-old Creative Arts Emmy Award-nominated actress and human rights advocate particularly passionate about how young people are represented in film and television and how that representation directly impacts their quality of life. For her work in television — notably children’s programming — Robinson has been twice featured in Variety Magazine’s Power of Young Hollywood Report, along with nods in Elle Magazine and The Hollywood Reporter. Robinson is an outspoken advocate for Black and Indigenous Americans, using her social media platform to advocate against the marginalization of minority communities. A proud member of the Center for Scholars and Storytellers’ Advisory Council, Robinson aims to be closer to the inception of stories about and for adolescents and, consequently, have a tangible impact on the ones that get told.
