32 Public Media Leaders Graduate From National Diversity Program

Jun 8, 2022

GREENVILLE, S.C. — As public media leaders navigate how to best foster diversity and equity in their workplaces and boards while making content inclusive for a wide array of audiences, a program is providing them with tools and perspectives that they can apply in their efforts.

Thirty-two public media professionals from across the country were part of the third class to graduate from the Public Media Diversity Leaders Initiative (PMDLI), a program of the Riley Institute at Furman University, on June 8. It is offered in partnership with South Carolina ETV and modeled after the Institute's award-winning South Carolina Diversity Leaders Initiative.

Over the course of five months, participants took part in a highly interactive curriculum comprising scenario analyses and other experiential learning tools that supports public media leaders in their efforts to apply diversity, equity, and inclusion principles to behaviors, systems, and cultures within their organizations.

“Today’s heightened awareness of racial and other inequities in American institutions has magnified and accelerated organizational and stakeholder expectations that public media leaders establish diversity, equity, and inclusion as core values within their organizations,” said Anthony Padgett, president and CEO of South Carolina ETV. “Recognizing that, we are proud to partner with the Riley Institute to offer this unique virtual program to our peers from across the country.”

Graduates of PMDLI become Public Media Diversity Fellows and will help identify future program participants. Collectively, they reflect a vast public media ecosystem, representing both television and radio as well as a variety of geographic regions, audiences, affiliate organizations, and diversity dimensions. A fourth PMDLI class will start the program in September. 

“The Riley Institute is proud to play a role in connecting a network of public media professionals who are committed to managing, leading, and meeting the needs of increasingly diverse workers, clients, and audiences,” said Dr. Don Gordon, executive director of the Riley Institute. “We look forward to seeing the positive impact this program will have in communities across the country.”

Below are the graduates of the third PMDLI class. For more information about PMDLI, visit furman.edu/public-media-dli.

Jorge Briseño
Director, Instructional TV
KLCS Public Media 
Los Angeles, CA

Bob Culkeen 
President/CEO
WTCI 
Chattanooga, TN

Heather Daniels-Whitson
Director of Education Media
Alabama Public Television
Birmingham, AL

Gavin Felix 
Director of Television Production
Nebraska Public Media 
Lincoln, NE

Ron Hetrick 
President and CEO 
WITF 
Harrisburg, PA

Dani Iannelli 
Director, Immersive Learning
PBS HQ 
Arlington, VA

Rachel Knight 
General Manager 
Ozarks Public Broadcasting
Springfield, MO

Katie Koskenmaki 
Director of Station Relations & Communications
ITVS 
San Francisco, CA

Tony Martin 
Senior Manger, Development Operations
WETA 
Arlington, VA

Suzanne Masri 
VP of Marketing, Communications & Engagement 
Fred Rogers Productions 
Pittsburgh, PA

Thom Mayer 
Director of Human Resources 
South Carolina Educational Television
Columbia, SC

Heather Mazzoni 
Chief Content Officer 
WHRO Public Media 
Norfolk, VA

Mallory Mbalia
Director of Education 
PBS NC, Education and Innovation RTP
Research Triangle Park, NC

Carla McCabe 
President and CEO 
WVIA 
Pittston, PA

Rachel Morrison Parsons 
Senior Director, Education Strategy
NETA 
Columbia, SC

Roger Mukasa 
Finance Manager 
PBS Wisconsin 
Madison, WI 

Tom New 
President/CEO 
WQLN Public Media 
Erie, PA 

Staci Orlando 
Assoc. GM-Operations / CFO 
PBS KVIE 
Sacramento, CA 

Sonja Pasquantonio 
VP/Human Resources, Training, and Development 
Connecticut Public Broadcasting, Inc
Hartford, CT 

Kristen Penczek 
Managing Director, Audience Engagement
Maryland Public Television (MPT)
Owings Mills, MD 

Molly Phillips 
Executive Director and General Manager
Iowa PBS 
Johnston, IA 

Stephen Schram 
Executive Director - General Manager
Michigan Radio - WUOM - University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI 

Julie Sochay 
Senior Director of Content and Communication 
WKAR Public Media 
East Lansing, MI 

Jayme Swain 
President and CEO 
VPM 
Richmond, VA 

Julie Thomsen 
Chief Administrative Officer 
Nebraska Public Media 
Lincoln, NE 

Aaron Turner 
Development Director 
WGVU Public Media 
Grand Rapids, MI 

Brad VanOsdel 
Director of Content for Entertainment
South Dakota Public Broadcasting
Vermillion, SD 

Stephen Wilkins 
SVP for HR and DEI
Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB)
Washington, DC 

Susan Wolfinger Schmitt 
Managing Director, Human Resources
Maryland Public Television (MPT)
Owings Mills, MD 

Olivia Wong 
Vice President, Marketing & Communications 
American Public Television 
Boston, MA 

Tara Wren 
Deputy Director of Education 
Mississippi Public Broadcasting 
Jackson, MS 

Randy Wright 
Executive Director 
WUFT-TV/FM, FPREN 
Gainesville, FL