Elizabeth Weinreb Fishman has been tapped as VP of strategic communications at Sesame Workshop, where the former Columbia Journalism School associate dean for communications will oversee media relations and messaging for the company’s businesses, philanthropic projects and executive team.

Fishman’s communications team will collaborate with the marketing team to increase the global awareness of Sesame Workshop, including both the Sesame Street series as well as the nonprofit organization’s global social impact work. Her hiring caps off a year that saw the Workshop welcome a number of former Nickelodeon executives, including the addition of Kay Wilson Stallings in August. 

Fishman served at Columbia Journalism School for eight years, managing strategic communications, media relations and special events. Prior to that, she worked at CBS News as an associate producer for 60 Minutes from 1997 to 2003, where among her more than 40 stories were segments on J.K. Rowling and George Lucas.