Dr. Rowena Pedrena is a Peabody and Emmy Award-winning producer, writer, and director with more than a decade of experience spanning documentary, scripted, and reality formats. Her work has appeared across major platforms and networks including Netflix, PBS, ABC, NBC, CBS, NatGeo, and Discovery Channel. Prior to entering academia, she served as Supervising Producer for Hearst Television’s streaming platform, Very Local, delivering more than 80 episodes across lifestyle, travel, culinary, and human interest genres. Beyond broadcast television, Pedrena has directed and produced branded content and commercial campaigns for clients such as the NFL, Warner Bros. Pictures, Intel, and The Wall Street Journal. She holds an MFA in Film Production from the Ohio University School of Film, where her background in screenwriting and directing informs her distinct approach of blending scripted cinematic techniques into unscripted media.