Pressroom
For Immediate Release July 1, 2009
Corporation for Public Broadcasting Names Pamela Johnson, Executive Director, Ready To Learn
Washington, DC -- The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) today has named Pamela Johnson, Ph.D., the executive director of Ready To Learn. Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Ready To Learn is a collaborative initiative between CPB and PBS that assists children ages 2-8 living in high-poverty communities learn to read through quality television, online and mobile media. As its executive director, Dr. Johnson will manage staff and consultants and coordinate the activities of producers, researchers, educators and social marketers to further expand content and educational services that reach children where they live, learn and play.
“For thirty years, Dr. Johnson’s work has personified the mission and goals of public service media,” said Pat Harrison, president and CEO of CPB. “She brings a wealth of experience and intellect to CPB and a passion for educating our nation’s children that will assist her in building on the success of Ready To Learn.”
Dr. Johnson joins CPB from WNED in Buffalo, New York where she was vice president for Education and Outreach. During her extensive career at the station, she developed and implemented programs in education, community outreach, content research and development, digital learning services and state and local collaborations. Through her leadership, the station was widely recognized for its award-winning community outreach initiatives and innovative educational service designs.
She is the founding director of WNED’s ThinkBright Lifelong Learning, a pioneering digital service which serves families, educators, students and citizens on air, on-line and in person through topics such as dyslexia education, family health and literacy and civic engagement.
She earned her Bachelor of Arts and Ph.D. at the State University of New York at Buffalo. She joins CPB in August.
About CPB
CPB is a private, nonprofit corporation created by Congress in 1967 and is steward of the federal government's investment in public broadcasting. It helps support the operations of more than 1,100 locally-owned and -operated public television and radio stations nationwide, and is the largest single source of funding for research, technology, and program development for public radio, television and related online services.