Katherine Pieper, PhD is the Program Director at the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, where she oversees the day-to-day operations of the Initiative’s research and advocacy efforts. Dr. Pieper has co-authored and contributed to more than 50 studies on the entertainment and media industries. As the leading global think tank studying inclusion in media, the initiative examines gender, race/ethnicity, LGBTQ+ identity, disability, age, mental health, and faith on screen across fictional and documentary content. Behind the camera, the Initiative has examined the barriers and opportunities facing women and people of color in film, the animation and visual effects industries, and the music business. Additionally, Dr. Pieper’s work with the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative has supported qualitative investigations into the nature and context of portrayals for a variety of communities.

Dr. Pieper graduated with a BA in communication from Michigan State University and completed her MA and PhD at USC Annenberg. Dr. Pieper’s dissertation focused on the role of social support in a three-year maternal and child health intervention in Cambodia. Between 2007 and 2011, she worked in communication and resource development, including proposal writing, reporting, and design of monitoring and evaluation activities for a non-governmental organization based in Phnom Penh. She joined the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative in 2012.