Yalda T. Uhls

Yalda T. Uhls is an American developmental psychologist, researcher, author, and the founder of the UCLA-based Center for Scholars & Storytellers. Her work focuses on the effects of media on adolescents. Before her academic career, she was a senior executive at major film studios, including MGM and Sony.

Early life and education Uhls is the American-born daughter of Iranian immigrants. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Berkeley. She later attended the UCLA Anderson School of Management, where she received her MBA. After a career in the entertainment industry, Uhls returned to UCLA and earned a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology. Her doctoral dissertation was awarded the Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation award by the Society for Research in Child Development.

Academia and research After becoming a parent, Uhls transitioned her career to academia to study child development. She is currently an assistant adjunct professor in the Department of Psychology at UCLA, where she teaches a course on digital media and human development. Her work has been featured in publications such as The New York Times, Time, and on NPR.

Center for Scholars & Storytellers Uhls founded the Center for Scholars & Storytellers at UCLA, a research organization that aims to bridge the gap between academic research on child development and media content creation. The center works with entertainment industry professionals to help create more authentic and inclusive stories for young audiences.

Advisory roles Uhls serves on several advisory boards, including the YouTube Kids and Family Advisory Council, the NAACP Entertainment Advisory Council, and Common Sense Media's LA Advisory Council. Her mother is the biologist Mina J. Bissell.