(New York, NY, April 16, 2014) — Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street, has named Stephen B. Sobhani to the newly created position of Vice President, International, Sesame Workshop. Sobhani will oversee the Workshop’s strategy in Sub-Saharan Africa with an emphasis on developing new multi-sector partnerships and resources for the organization’s health and education initiatives in that territory. He will also lead the development of a global themes strategy, aligning the organization’s global network of partners to collaborate and leverage common content across the brand, featuring curricula on health, literacy, girls’ education, financial empowerment and tolerance. Sobhani’s efforts will also focus on Sesame Workshop’s first-ever Global Health Initiative.
Stephen B. Sobhani
“Sesame Workshop is dedicated to sharing multimedia content with children all around the world, to help them stay healthy and ready to learn,” said Robert Knezevic, Senior Vice President, International Project Management. “We are thrilled to have Stephen lead our efforts to leverage our extensive collection of existing content for international communities, and encouraging collaboration within the Sesame Street brand and among our global partners. Stephen brings with him an incredible energy and passion for children’s education and health. We look forward to his future strides with the organization, beginning with our Global Health Initiative.”
Sobhani joins Sesame Workshop with over 14 years of experience at the UN Foundation, forging and leading a wide range of multi-sector alliances for the United Nations, international philanthropies, NGOs, and corporations. He also has extensive cross-discipline expertise in women’s and children’s health, HIV/AIDS, nutrition, and reproductive health.
Originally from Santa Barbara, CA, Sobhani earned both a Bachelor of Sciences in Foreign Service and his Masters in Public Policy from Georgetown University. He also holds a certificate in mediation and conflict resolution from Erasmus University in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Sesame Workshop is the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street, the landmark television program that reaches millions of children every day in more than 150 countries. The Workshop’s mission is to use the educational power of media to help children everywhere reach their highest potential. Delivered through a variety of platforms, Sesame Workshop develops research-based content – including television programs, books, games, mobile apps and community engagement initiatives – that supports early childhood learning, helps prepare children for school, and addresses developmental needs. The Workshop’s programs are tailored to the needs of specific regions and focus on topics that help young children and families develop critical skills for lifelong learning. For more information, visit us at www.sesameworkshop.org.
