Disney Junior Educational Resource Group has named Vicki Ariyasu, a longtime consultant to Disney Junior, as its executive director, where she will lead an in-house team responsible for the curriculum development and focus group studies of content and brand extensions.

Reporting to Nancy Kanter, SVP of original programming and GM of Disney Junior Worldwide, Ariyasu will work with the Disney Junior programming development and production teams to establish curriculum based on national educational standards, while also incorporating new technologies and cultural trends. She will work with on-air promotion and digital media teams to ensure that content spanning television, online, games, apps and other brand extensions has a learning focus.

Ariyasu will also manage a council of academics – the Disney Junior Advisory Board, which she helped establish – to further guide the channel’s curriculum in the fields of transmedia, storytelling, early education, language development, diversity, emotional learning, digital trends and literacy.

Her consulting credits include Disney Junior series Sofia the First (pictured), Doc McStuffins, Imagination Movers and the upcoming Sheriff Callie’s Wild West.

Previously, Ariyasu served as VP of development, television and movies for Klasky Csupo and  as a VP at Bagdasarian Productions/Universal Family Entertainment.