Nathan Vandiver, GM for KUAR and classical music station KLRE in Little Rock, Ark., will resign from the stations.
Vandiver and his family are moving to Portland, Ore., where his wife has accepted a job with the city’s federal public defender office. Vandiver’s last day with KUAR is July 8.
Vandiver joined KUAR as an intern in 2009. He became a reporter and anchor later that year and was promoted to PD in 2013. He stepped up to interim GM in 2016 after former leader Ben Fry died of a heart attack. Vandiver formally became GM in December 2019. In addition to leading KUAR, Vandiver was elected to the University Station Alliance board of directors last year.
“I’m proud of the work we’ve done in the time that I’ve been here,” Vandiver said in an interview with the station Friday. “With the death of Ben Fry, it was a big transition to make and we stabilized the station after that difficult period.”
Vandiver was credited with growing membership overall. During last fall’s pledge drive, the station’s university license-holder announced that an anonymous donor gave the stations $1.5 million to create an endowment.
“We appreciate Nathan and the station staff for their efforts to enrich the lives of those who benefit from the quality news and cultural programs that are part of KUAR/KLRE,” said Sarah Beth Estes, dean of the college of humanities, arts, social sciences and education at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
“Under Nathan’s leadership, UA Little Rock Public Radio grew both its sustaining members and its endowment. We wish him the best in his future endeavors,” Estes said in the news story.
The university has not announced a timeline for filling the GM position.