Helen Barrington appointed leader of North State Public Radio

Helen Barrington signed on May 4 as executive director for North State Public Radio in Chico, Calif.

The station is licensed to California State University in Chico and overseen by Chico State Enterprises, a university-led entity. CapRadio in Sacramento, Calif., previously operated NSPR under a management agreement that ended last year.

“NSPR has been a trusted voice for our community for decades and has an incredibly bright future ahead,” said Chico State Provost and VP for Academic Affairs Leslie Cornick in a news release. “Chico State’s commitment to informing, engaging and empowering our community has never been stronger, and we thank Helen for becoming our newest partner in this vital work.”

Barrington most recently worked as major gifts, stewardship and events manager for the nonprofit that produces From the Top, the NPR program featuring young musicians. Before that she was GM for KAZU in Pacific Grove, Calif.

Barrington has held editorial leadership roles for CapRadio, WHYY in Philadelphia, VPM in Richmond, Va., and New England Public Radio, the network in western Massachusetts that later merged into New England Public Media. She has also been EP for PRI’s Sound & Spirit and a producer for The World at GBH in Boston.

“It is the honor of my career to work with the NSPR staff and the communities the station serves at this pivotal time, as we co-create NSPR’s next chapter,” Barrington said in the news release.

“I feel so strongly that those of us working in the media, especially nonprofit media, have a responsibility to train the next generation,” she added. “I am committed to this work and have been so inspired by what I’ve seen Chico State students accomplish.”