Ann Alquist was appointed executive director and GM for WBHM, licensed to the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Alquist succeeds Chuck Holmes, who stepped down in January to lead the Alabama Humanities Alliance. Her first day is July 6.
“Ann is a smart and talented leader whose passion for public radio is evident,” said UAB Chief Communications Officer Jim Bakken in a news release. “WBHM provides an invaluable service to the Birmingham community and beyond, and Ann has the ability and vision to chart a course and inspire an incredibly talented team at WBHM to best serve listeners and our region.”
Alquist most recently worked as assistant GM for The Public’s Radio in Providence, R.I., and was also chief progress officer. She recently worked on loan from The Public’s Radio as director of community engagement for America Amplified: Election 2020, working with eight public radio journalism collaboratives, and was based out of KCUR in Kansas City, Mo.
Alquist has also been director of membership for Alaska Public Media, director of radio engagement for the National Center for Media Engagement and news director for KFAI, a community radio station in Minneapolis.
As part of her new role, Alquist will oversee the Gulf States Newsroom, the CPB-supported collaboration among WBHM, Mississippi Public Broadcasting, WWNO in New Orleans and WRKF in Baton Rouge, La.
“It is an honor to lead a dedicated and talented team as WBHM’s next executive director,” Alquist said in the release. “I am looking forward to building on WBHM’s success as a free, public information and news resource. This is especially exciting in Birmingham, a community with rich traditions that include valuing local journalism. I am eager to work with the staff and communities across the heart of Alabama to chart WBHM’s next chapter, together.”
Congrats, Ann!!!!