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If you’ve found your way here, you’re likely curious about my work and the projects I’ve been fortunate to be part of. I’ve spent my career at the intersection of storytelling and opportunity - overseeing creative projects, and helping ideas find their way into the world.

Over the past two decades, I’ve had the privilege to develop, produce, and supervise documentary films, television series, and other media projects across the industry with organizations including PBS, HBO, Disney, Discovery, and Hallmark. Along the way, my work has received eleven Emmy Award nominations, though what I value most are the collaborations with talented people who care deeply about the stories they tell.

Today, I serve as Program Director at PBS, leading Creative Voices, a multi-year, multi-million-dollar initiative that helps filmmakers build careers in public media. I designed the strategy and framework for two national fellowship programs, forged partnerships across the industry, and created opportunities for filmmakers to connect with producers, stations, and decision-makers throughout the system. Content created through the initiative has generated more than 20 million views across PBS digital platforms.

With a Master’s in Entrepreneurship, I see every production and every role as an opportunity to exercise my innovative spirit by approaching storytelling not only as a craft, but as a creative venture worth building. If our interests align around a project, collaboration, or new idea, I’d always welcome the conversation.

A lifelong storyteller
shaping stories, creators,
and creative ventures

Professional Experience

PBS — General Audience Programming | Arlington, VA

Program Director, Creative Voices Initiative  | 2022–Present

Lead a national initiative designed to strengthen the public media talent pipeline. Designed the strategy and implementation of year-long fellowship programs connecting filmmakers with leading PBS series, stations, and production partners. Built a scalable framework for recruitment, professional development, and industry placement while managing partnerships, budgets, and stakeholder alignment across the public media ecosystem. Content created through the initiative has generated more than 20 million views across PBS digital platforms.

Arizona Public Media (PBS) | Tucson, AZ

Special Projects Producer & Interim Showrunner | 2019–2022

Oversaw production of the weekly documentary series Arizona Illustrated, managing a team of producers and coordinating editorial, scheduling, and delivery across departments. Provided story guidance, ensured production continuity, and strengthened collaboration between programming, marketing, and operations. As Special Projects Producer, produced live audience programs for broadcast and digital platforms. Partnered with the University of Arizona and community organizations to develop content addressing public issues, cultural topics, and regional interests. Managed guest booking, scripts, crew coordination, and production logistics from planning through broadcast.

C-SPAN | Washington, DC

American History TV Producer | 2017–2019

Created long-form programming for national broadcast in collaboration with major cultural institutions including the National Archives, Library of Congress, and Smithsonian. Developed content highlighting the people, places, and events that shape American history, translating scholarly research into accessible storytelling for a broad audience.

Independent Producer | Various Clients

Producer, Writer, Consultant | 2012–2017

Developed documentary, reality, and scripted projects for networks and production companies including PBS, BET, WNET, TLC, Hallmark and Discovery. Provided creative development, research, scripting, and production guidance across multiple formats. Managed projects from concept through delivery while coordinating teams of freelancers and stakeholders.

Everest Production | Somerset, NJ

Production Executive / Supervising Producer | 2007–2012

Supervised development and production for more than ten television series for a national network. Managed producers, writers, journalists, and crews across daily programming, talk shows, and newsmagazine formats. Oversaw hiring, budgets, schedules, and editorial direction, while guiding new series development and evaluating external pitches.

WHYY — PBS | Philadelphia, PA

Producer / Writer / Director | 2006–2007

Lead a national initiative supporting emerging and mid-career documentary filmmakers across the public media system. Designed and implemented two year-long programs -an  early and mid-career fellowship, that places participants with PBS series, stations, and independent production partners, as well as offers skill development, networking and public media insight.

Independent Producer | Various Projects

Producer & Writer | 2001–2003

Developed television projects and wrote scripts for children’s and educational programming, including work for PBS and Disney.

HBO| New York, NY

Coordinating Producer / Writer | 1999–2001

Produced a newsmagazine series and one-hour special addressing national and international issues for youth. Conducted in-depth research and secured interviews with hard-to-reach subjects. Received an Emmy nomination for this work.

Sesame Workshop | New York, NY

Producer & Writer | 1995–1999

Worked on the flagship series Sesame Street, also contributed to development and production across multiple children’s programs, including the first U.S.-based Latino animated series for children. Served on the launch team for a partnership with Cartoon Network to create and produce a preschool programming block featuring a mix of live-action, puppetry, and animation. Wrote scripts for several series, and collaborated with international co-production partners.

Education

  • Master’s in Entrepreneurship from the University of Arizona

  • BFA from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts

Notable Achievements

AWARDS

Emmy Award Nomination | Endangered Language, AZPM, National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter

 

Emmy Award Nomination | Settling in Flagstaff, AZPM, National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter

 

Emmy Award Nomination | Arizona Illustrated, AZPM
National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter

 

Emmy Award Nomination | The Global Kitchen, Ebru TV, National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Mid Atlantic Chapter

 

Emmy Award Nomination | Rhythm & Roots, Ebru TV
National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Mid Atlantic Chapter


Emmy Award Nomination | Sarah’s Story, WHYY
National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Mid Atlantic Chapter

 

Vision Award | World in America, Ebru TV
National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC)

 

 

 

First Place | Sarah’s Story, WHYYSociety of Professional Journalists | Greater Philadelphia Chapter

 

Emmy Award Nomination | Rhythm & Roots, Ebru TV
National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Mid Atlantic Chapter

 

Emmy Award Nomination | Starting School Smart, WHYY, National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Mid Atlantic Chapter

 

First Place | Starting School Smart, WHYY
Society of Professional Journalists | Greater Philadelphia Chapter


Emmy Award Nomination | Storytime, WHYY
National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Mid Atlantic Chapter


Emmy Award Nomination | The Friday Zone: Cicadas, WTIU, National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Great Lakes Chapter


Emmy Award Nomination | What Matters, HBO
National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, National

Finalist - Screenwriting | The Right Touch

Urban World Film Festival

FELLOWSHIPS

AFI Digital Content Lab – Dora the Explorer – Nickelodeon

New Media Technology Fellow – Black Public Media, CPB, PBS

s h e l t o n . n i n a @ g m a i l . c o m

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© 2026 by Nina Shelton

 

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