Comings and goings: NPR VP leaves network, WXXI hires chief of staff …

Keith Jenkins, VP of visuals and music strategy for NPR, left the network.

“Awards and milestones aside, and there have been many, it’s the joy of watching individuals develop and grow that I will take with me,” Jenkins said on LinkedIn. “Thank you for sharing your time, wisdom and talents and for allowing me to be part of your journey.”

Jenkins first joined NPR in 2008 as supervising senior producer of multimedia and later held several visuals and music roles. He has also held photography roles for the Boston Globe, AOL and the Washington Post and had leadership roles at National Geographic.

Mona Isler was promoted to chief of staff for WXXI in Rochester, N.Y.

Isler joined the station in 2013 as executive office administrator and liaison to the board of trustees.

“Mona Isler has always been the heart of WXXI, ensuring our mission reaches every corner of our organization and our community,” said CEO Chris Hastings in a news release. “As I continue to reshape my leadership team, Mona is exactly the strategic partner I need — her talent, dedication, and deep local connections will help us guide WXXI into its next chapter.”

Isler previously worked as an executive assistant for several organizations, including HCR Home Care and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. She has also held several administrative roles for Citizens Bank. 

Audience

Stevan Smith was hired as an audience development manager for WBGO in Newark, N.J. He rejoined the jazz station earlier this year as an independent contractor. From 2006–18, he worked for the station as a traffic manager, producer and fill-in announcer. He was also CCO from 2021–23. 

Marketing

PBS Reno in Nevada hired Leo Martinez Davis as senior designer. He most recently worked as visual communications manager for 2U, where he led creative and branding campaigns for New York University, Northwestern University, Simmons University and Baylor University. He has also held marketing roles for Outspoken Media in Troy, N.Y., and MaxScholar in Buenos Aires, Argentina. “Public television was once my window to the world, and now I am proud to help open that window for others,” he said in a news release. “Growing up in Venezuela, I experienced how restricted and biased media can be, which has shaped my deep appreciation for publicly funded broadcasting. I’m excited to join the welcoming team at PBS Reno and bring my background in multimedia production and visual storytelling to a mission that prioritizes people over profit. I look forward to contributing to projects that uplift voices, celebrate community, and build bridges rather than barriers.”

Content

Kathryn Rodenmeyer returned to Mississippi Public Broadcasting as director of television. Rodenmeyer began her career at MPB as coordinating producer for Mississippi Outdoors and has since led communications efforts for nonprofit and trade organizations. Most recently, she served as EP and editor for MPB’s Southern Remedy television series and produced the educational series Mind in the Making through her company, Mosaic Media. “Kathryn’s return to MPB at this time and in this role is extremely critical and important,” said MPB CCO Taiwo Gaynor. “Her experience in public broadcasting, commitment to high-quality storytelling, and proven leadership will help guide our media creation and television programming to new heights.”

Russell Gant is retiring from his position as a classical radio host for WUSF/WSMR in Tampa and Sarasota, Fla. Gant began his career 42 years ago as a music student at the University of South Florida, which holds the license for the stations. He joined full-time in 1987 and was promoted to lead the launch of WSMR as a 24-hour classical station in 2010. His final broadcast was on Midday Mozart. “Perhaps no voice on our airwaves is more closely tied to the origin and the heart of WUSF and WSMR than Russell Gant,” said WUSF GM JoAnn Urofsky in a news release. “Russell is and has been a leading light in classical music throughout our region, beloved both here at the station and among listeners across our region. We will feel the absence of Russell in our studios and in our hallways for certain, and we wish him all the very best in a well-deserved retirement.”

Michael Fanelli joined Aspen Public Radio in Colorado as the inaugural climate reporter for the station’s new Climate Desk. Fanelli most recently worked as news director for community radio station KRBD in Ketchikan, Alaska. He was also host of Morning Edition for Alaska Public Media and a producer for KCRW in Santa Monica, Calif.

Briana Heaney was hired as a reporter for KRCC in Colorado Springs, Colo. She most recently worked as a statehouse reporter for West Virginia Public Broadcasting. She was also a statehouse politics audio reporter for the Missouri News Network and a reporter and producer for KBIA in Columbia, Mo.

Governance

Robert “Bob” Wise, a former governor of West Virginia who also represented the state in Congress, joined the board of Public Media Co. Wise was West Virginia’s governor from 2001–05 and a member of the House of Representatives from 1983–2001. He went on to lead the nonprofit Alliance for Excellent Education for 14 years and now “focuses on driving the transformation of education systems that are rebuilding from COVID-19’s impact,” according to a PMC press release. “Public media is an essential service and a public good,” Wise said. “I’m honored to join the Public Media Company board and to help this valuable organization secure and cultivate service to local communities around the country.”

Will Stansbury was appointed to the board of directors for the Contributor Development Partnership. He is VP of professional and technology services for SOCI, an AI-marketing solutions company, and has been a VP for Blackbaud, roundCorner and Merkle. He was also a programmer and analyst for WETA in Washington, D.C. “Since its inception, I have watched CDP grow into one of public media’s most important and trusted partners,” Stansbury said in a news release. “I’ve always been impressed by their mission-driven, station-centric approach to supporting the public service mission of local public media stations large and small and I look forward to serving on their board.”

Edward H. Kaplan is retiring from his position as board chair for the Maryland Public Broadcasting Commission, which oversees Maryland Public Television. Kaplan, a real estate developer, has been chair since 2007 and joined the board in 1996. During his tenure, he and his wife became the single largest donors to MPT and helped support the creation of a production studio in 2019. As part of the change, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore appointed Richard J. Bodorff, currently vice chair, to succeed Kaplan as the board’s leader. Bodorff was previously elected chair of the MPT Foundation and has served on the board of America’s Public Television Stations. For more than 30 years, he has been associated with Wiley Rein LLP, where he contributes expertise in FCC matters. A news release said the board change coincides with the retirement of MPT CEO Larry Unger, who has been succeeded by Steven Schupak.

Send news of “comings and goings” to people@current.org