As the History Co:Lab’s Co-Lead & Chief Scientist, Susan Rivers uses her expertise in psychology, social-emotional learning, and emotional intelligence to support the design of youth-centered games and learning experiences, lead impact assessment, and shape an impact-focused organizational strategy.

Susan previously served as the Executive Director and Chief Scientist at iThrive Games where she developed an approach to integrate the science of the teen brain into creating game-based learning experiences with and for youth. She 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 and Yale University, served as research faculty in the Department of Psychology at Yale for over a decade, and was a co-founder of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. Susan is a fierce believer in the magnificence 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 with and for teens that support their wellness and learning about themselves, society, and the world. 

Susan’s research has been funded by the William T. Grant Foundation, the Spencer Foundation, the Institute of Education Sciences, the Einhorn Family Charitable Trust, the Air Force Research Laboratory, and others. She is currently serving a five-year term as a Principal Member of the Social and Behavioral Education Research Peer Review Panel with the Institute of Education Sciences. Susan has published dozens of scholarly articles and is the author of multiple curricula. She is the founding Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Games, Self, and Society and an alum of the Large-Scale Social Change Leadership Fellowship with the Billions Institute.