Michael Preston

Michael Preston is the Executive Director of the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop, a research and innovation lab that focuses on harnessing the potential of emerging media to promote children’s learning and wellbeing. The Cooney Center conducts original research on emerging technologies and collaborates across sectors to put research into action. Prior to the Cooney Center, Michael’s work focused on using technology to improve teaching and learning, drive student agency, and create models for systemic change in K-12 and university contexts. He is a co-founder of CSforALL, the hub for the national Computer Science for All movement. He earned a PhD in Cognitive Science in Education from Teachers College, Columbia University and a BA in East Asian Studies from Harvard University.