The Center for Scholars & Storytellers (CSS), at UCLA, collaborates with leading scientists to provide research-based insights for content creators crafting authentic and inclusive stories for children (ages 2-9) and adolescents (ages 10-25). Our focus is on entertainment content that supports young people's social and emotional health and well-being, emphasizing changing ingrained cultural narratives around the critical issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA), mental health, and inequality.

CSS brings academic rigor and real-world entertainment expertise to every project we undertake. By partnering with more than 60 subject-matter experts, scientists, graduate students, research assistants, and academic collaborators worldwide, we help the entertainment industry reimagine and strengthen its content so that young people can thrive and grow. Our original research and valuable insights and tools have been featured in several major media sources such as ABC News, EdSource, NBC News, the New York Times, Today, and more.

In just a few years, CSS has grown across all content sectors and is being used by some of the industry's most well-known names, including media companies (Disney, Paramount, Pixar), tech (YouTube, Google), gaming (Twitch, Ninja), public health (Surgeon General, LA County of Education), and consumer products (Mattel, Lego, Barbie).

CSS was founded in 2019 by award-winning Dr. Yalda T. Uhls, a former senior film executive who subsequently received a Ph.D. in developmental psychology from UCLA. Dr. Uhls was recently named 1 of 9 DEI experts who are changing Hollywood.

You can learn more about our work at scholarsandstorytellers.com or contact us directly here, https://www.scholarsandstorytellers.com/contact-us.

Media & Entertainment

Education

Film

Center for Scholars & Storytellers

Dr. Yalda T. Uhls

Yalda Tehranian-Uhls

Dr. Alisha J. Hines

Rebekah Sigman

Nina Linhales Barker

Jill Sanford

The Research and Fellowship team at the Center for Scholars & Storytellers (CSS) is responsible for conducting original research and providing critical insights to support the creation of authentic and inclusive content for young audiences. This team collaborates with scientists, graduate students, research assistants, and subject-matter experts worldwide to explore the impacts of entertainment on social and emotional health, diversity, equity, inclusion, and mental health. By synthesizing academic rigor with entertainment industry expertise, the team helps shape and enhance storytelling that fosters a positive and inclusive cultural narrative for children and adolescents.

Research and Fellowship

Research and Fellowship

About

Team members