Amy Wielunski was promoted to VP of membership for Chicago Public Media.
Wielunski joined the station in 2017 as director of membership growth and acquisition. She previously worked as a fundraising manager for Minnesota Public Radio and New York Public Radio’s WQXR.
She was also membership and special events manager for WSKG in Binghamton, N.Y.; membership director for WTMD in Towson, Md.; and assistant traffic manager and corporate account manager for WAMU in Washington, D.C.
Ashley Alvarado was appointed VP of community engagement and strategic initiatives for KPCC in Pasadena, Calif.
“The creation of this role is a reflection of the org’s commitment to engaged journalism,” Alvarado said on Twitter. “I’m thankful for their trust and investment in this work—and in me.”
Alvarado joined the station in 2012 as public engagement editor and has also been manager and director of community engagement. She previously worked as an editor for California Watch.
Rich McLaughlin was named PD for WFUV in New York City.
McLaughlin succeeds Rita Houston, who died in December. His first day with the station is Monday.
McLaughlin most recently worked for Amazon as global programming lead and senior music curator, where he led U.S. rock programming strategy. Before Amazon, he was SVP of programming for iHeartRadio, format manager for Sirius Satellite Radio and content director for WFUV.
McLaughlin’s radio career began under Houston’s mentorship when he was a student at the station’s licensee, Fordham University. “The education I received from Rita is evidence of her mission accomplished,” McLaughlin said in a news release. “Rita taught me that success achieved at the expense of authenticity is failure in disguise. The path she paved allowed for missteps along the way, and always led me back to what’s real. Rita’s spirit, fearlessness, and love of music continues to inspire.”
“I’m grateful to WFUV’s entire team,” said GM Chuck Singleton in the release. “They’ve done an amazing job of keeping us moving forward in a most difficult year.”
“I’m over the moon about joining WFUV as Program Director,” said McLaughlin. “The opportunity to serve a station and university deeply embedded in my DNA is especially meaningful.”
Market Enginuity hired two development professionals.
Rufus Moore was hired as director of sponsorship sales for the St. Louis Public Radio team. Moore most recently worked as the national strategic account manager of healthcare for Graybar, a distribution company.
Michelle Fernandes Datey announced that she will join as an account manager and will work with WFAE in Charlotte, N.C. “What’s better than being an NPR fan? Getting a job in public radio!” she said on LinkedIn. She most recently worked as a technical recruiter for Randstad Technologies and also held several account roles for Microsoft from 2005 to 2017.
Marketing
Victoria Scialfa was promoted to director of digital marketing for Lehigh Valley Public Media in Bethlehem, Pa. Scialfa joined the station in 2019 as marketing and public relations manager and has also been project and editorial manager.
Development
Chelan Lippincott left her position as major gifts officer and broadcast society manager for Boise State Public Radio to become director of development for Techbridge Girls, a STEM-focused organization. Lippincott previously worked as development services officer for KUOW in Seattle and was a host and membership/administrative director for KBCS in Bellevue, Wash.
Content
Aaron Foley announced that he was hired as senior editor of communities for PBS NewsHour, a new position. Foley said on Twitter that the program “will be increasing correspondence on under-covered communities and how they relate to all of us, regardless of locale.” Foley is founding director of the Black Media Initiative at the Center for Community Media. He has also been a John S. Knight journalism fellow at Stanford University, chief storyteller for the City of Detroit, and editor of BLAC Detroit Magazine.
Annie Russell is leaving her role as an editor for KQED in San Francisco to become a senior producer for StoryCorps. Russell joined KQED last year. She previously worked as a project editor for the Association of Independents in Radio and as a news editor and anchor for WBEZ in Chicago.
Yasmine Jumaa will join Louisville Public Media as a race and equity reporter, a new position. Her first day is Monday. Jumaa most recently worked as a housing reporter for VPM in Richmond, Va., and has also been a host and radio producer.
Elle Mannion was promoted to the role of Tiny Desk contest manager and communications strategist for NPR. Mannion joined the network in 2018 as an events intern and has also worked as an events assistant and events associate.
Elena Rivera announced that she is leaving her reporter position at KRCC in Colorado Springs, Colo., to become a health reporter for KERA in Dallas. Rivera previously worked for Blue Ridge Public Radio in Asheville, N.C.; Georgia Public Broadcasting; and KBIA in Columbia, Mo.
Sam Yellowhorse Kesler became the first fellow for NPR’s Code Switch. Kesler most recently worked as an NPR news assistant and an intern for Ask Me Another, produced by the network and WNYC in New York City. He has also been lead producer for Side Effects Podcast.
Amanda Beland was hired as a producer for Radio Boston, produced by WBUR. Beland previously worked as a producer for In It Together, produced by GBH, and Consider This, a co-production between the two stations. She joined GBH in 2016 and worked as a producer for All Things Considered.
Wendel Patrick was named host of Artworks, produced by Maryland Public Television. Patrick, a pianist, producer and sound engineer, is an assistant professor of music engineering and technology at the Peabody Conservatory of Music. He was also a professor of music at Loyola University Maryland and co-creator of Out of the Blocks, a documentary radio program that aired on public radio stations.
Vicki Adame joined Minnesota Public Radio as a Report for America journalist who will cover the state’s Latino communities. Adame most recently worked as an editor and senior writer for CTLatinoNews.com.
Michael Lee was hired as a general assignment reporter for WOSU Public Media in Columbus, Ohio. Lee previously worked as an intern reporter and producer for the station in 2018. He most recently worked as an intern for the Chicago Sun-Times and the Columbus Dispatch. “I’m excited to return to the team where I got my passion for local news,” Lee said in a news release. “It’s good to come home and report on the community I grew up in. I hope to do the community justice in telling their stories.”
Lexi Krupp will join Vermont Public Radio this month as a Report for America journalist. She will cover the Upper Valley and Northeast Kingdom regions, with a special focus on the challenges and opportunities in rural communities. Before VPR, Krupp was a science reporter for Interlochen Public Radio in Michigan.
Send news of “comings and goings” to [email protected]