Blues Clues and Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood creator Angela Santomero, B.A. 1990, came to campus over Cardinal Weekend to share how her University experience set her up for success and to also give a sneak peek at her newest show.
Santomero just published a new book, Life Clues, which is a primer summarizing life lessons she’s discovered along the way. She shared with a packed Caldwell Auditorium how she was inspired to take her passion for childhood development research she developed as a psychology undergraduate to create innovative interactive shows that entertain and educate.
“I was in the psychology club at Catholic when someone said that they were going to go work at Sesame Street in the research department. And I thought to myself: ‘That's a job?’ So I ran over to the career center!” Santomero said. “Understanding how to create educational programming to reach millions of kids was the dream.”
One of the biggest things she learned through her academic journey and her experience at the University’s childhood development center was how to talk to kids and understand the world from their perspective. Her research background continues to set her apart and has helped her shape multiple television shows that resonate with millions.
But that’s not the most important takeaway from her undergraduate years.
“The very best thing I took with me from Catholic is my husband Greg. We met as sophomores,” she said, as she gazed at her husband who watched her from the front row. Greg Santomero is an award-winning designer/creator in his own right who earned a bachelor’s in sociology the same year as his wife.
She asked how many students in the audience watched one of her shows growing up, and most of the crowd packed into the room raised their hands. Her joy at seeing the impact of her work on the earliest stages of their educational journey was palpable.
“That’s why you are here. You are so smart!” said Santomero.
She then shared for the first time a sneak peek into their latest project, a YouTube series called Princess Penelope’s Purse of Preposterous Things.
“No one’s seen this,” she said with excitement. As the video clip played, Santomero watched the gleeful reaction of an alumni’s toddler daughter in the audience to the fantastical fantasy.
Following a Q&A session after her talk, she met with audience members to chat and sign books. She greeted each person and sat side by side in “thinking chairs.”
Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences Thomas Smith thanked her for sharing her story and for being a role model to the many students gathered.
“She's driven by love – love of children, love research, love of creativity, and love of working with teams,” said Smith.
View a slideshow from the event that includes more photos from University photographer Patrick G. Ryan.
