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Colleen Russo Johnson

Co-Director, Children's Media Lab, Toronto Metropolitan University

Dr. Colleen Russo Johnson is the Chief Scientist and co-founder of the OK Play app, which encourages curiosity and kindness through creative play.

As a developmental psychologist with an expertise in children's media and technology, Colleen serves as an adjunct professor at Ryerson University and co-founder of the Ryerson Children’s Media Lab. She is also a senior scholar for UCLA’s Center for Scholars and Storytellers, research advisor to Sinking Ship Entertainment, and co-author of the bestselling children's books, Dino Dana: Dino Field Guide Volume 1 and Volume 2.

Colleen is passionate about applying best practices from science into tech and media products to enhance the lives of families everywhere. She holds a PhD from Vanderbilt University as a National Science Foundation graduate fellow.

She now lives in Toronto with her husband J.J., two dogs, and two young children, Ripley & Rex.