Susan Rivers, Ph.D. is the Executive Director and Chief Scientist at iThrive Games, where she uses her expertise in adolescent social and emotional development to lead innovative game and experience design that promotes and protects teen mental health. Dr. Rivers earned her doctorate in psychology as well as a Master's of Science and a Master's of Philosophy from Yale University, held postdoctoral appointments at Yale University and Cornell University, was a lecturer at Skidmore College, served as research faculty in the Department of Psychology at Yale University for over a decade, and was a co-founder of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. She is a fierce believer in the genius of young people and an advocate for their wellness, spending the last two decades developing, leading, and evaluating programs and efforts that support their social and emotional development. With iThrive, she has co-designed responsive and immersive games, tools, and experiences for teens that support their wellness and learning about themselves, society, and the world. Her research has been funded by the William T. Grant Foundation, the Spencer Foundation, the Institute of Education Sciences, the Einhorn Family Charitable Trust, Air Force Research Laboratory, and others. She is serving a 5-year term as a Principal Member of the Social and Behavioral Education Research Peer Review Panel with the Institute of Education Sciences. Dr. Rivers is also the founding Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Games, Self, and Society and is an alum of the Large-Scale Social Change Leadership Fellowship with the Billions Institute.

• A strength you admire in teens: "Teens are the greatest collaborators, especially in the massive project of solving the world's biggest problems. They are natural risk takers and inspiring imagineers of what's possible and they cherish social relationships and have the courage and audacity to question authority and the status quo."  

• Favorite iThrive project: "iThrive Studio, our teen-centered co-design program, is my most favorite. The practice of teen co-design is integrated into everything we do. Sharing space with teens. Shifting power dynamics so adults are learning from teens. Deeply listening to teens as they engage in design activities to catch a glimpse of their lived experience and their vision for what is possible. Co-design is ALWAYS transformative for my understanding of teens and humanity, and always instructive for what we need to be focused on at iThrive."