Melanie Harke

Melanie Harke is the Director of Interactive at Fred Rogers Productions, a role she has held since July 1, 2024.4 With a career spanning over 18 years in the game design and production industry, Melanie brings extensive experience to her position.2

Professional Background

Melanie's journey at Fred Rogers Productions includes several key roles:

• Director of Interactive (current position)4
• Interactive Producer for Daniel Tiger (May 2023)4
• Digital Producer for Donkey Hodie (July 2022)4

Prior to joining Fred Rogers Productions, Melanie worked as a senior game design manager at Schell Games, where she contributed to various children's educational content, including projects for Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, Peg + Cat, and Hero Elementary.1

Education and Expertise

Melanie holds both a B.S. in Computer Science and a Masters in Entertainment Technology from Carnegie Mellon University.1 Her professional experience encompasses a wide range of projects, including:

• Interactive connected toys
• MMOs (Massively Multiplayer Online games)
• VR experiences
• Theme park rides
• Early childhood educational games1

Current Work

In her role at Fred Rogers Productions, Melanie works on popular preschool series such as Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood and Donkey Hodie.1 She is involved in developing interactive content for these brands, leveraging her extensive game design background.

Recent Activities

• In September 2024, Melanie discussed the new Donkey Hodie interactive game on a podcast.5
• In June 2024, she participated in a panel at the Games for Change Festival.3

Melanie Harke is known for her passion in creating games that inspire, educate, and encourage a kinder and more thoughtful world.1 Her expertise in managing game design teams and guiding them through their work has been a valuable asset in her career.1