Jonathan Seaborn will lead UA Little Rock Public Radio beginning Tuesday, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock announced Thursday.
Seaborn is currently CCO at Texas Tech Public Media in Lubbock, where he has worked for more than eight years. His last day is Friday.
“Jonathan brings with him a wealth of experience in university-associated public media and deep ties to public media nationwide,” Sarah Beth Estes, a dean at the university, said in a press release. “He is an ideal candidate to lead the stations in delivering the local news and programming that is essential in our community.”
He succeeds Nathan Vandiver, who stepped down last year.
UA Little Rock Public Radio houses NPR news station KUAR and classical station KLRE.
“I am very excited by this new opportunity,” Seaborn said in the release. “I’ve been met with nothing but passion and enthusiasm from the staff, the Friends of KUAR/KLRE, and the public. With their appreciation and love for the stations, it’s obvious that UA Little Rock Public Radio is well respected and loved in the community.”
One of Seaborn’s first priorities will be to replace Michael Hibblen, the station’s former news director, who left earlier this month for Arkansas PBS. According to the press release, Seaborn will also “concentrate on developing a strategic plan for UA Little Rock Public Radio, building community engagement, and modernizing distribution plans.”