November 12, 2009
Petrowich appointed to NPR Board of Directors
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Greg Petrowich, executive director of Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s WSIU Public Broadcasting, is now a member of the National Public Radio Board of Directors.
Petrowich came to WSIU Public Broadcasting earlier this year from KUAC-FM/TV/DT -- the public broadcasting stations at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
“It’s truly an honor to serve on the Board of Directors of National Public Radio,” Petrowich said. “I look forward to helping this vital organization during a challenging period for all media organizations.”
Petrowich hopes his experience “managing three stations that serve smaller, mostly rural areas will help maintain the diversity of perspectives that are the foundation of everything NPR does.
“SIUC has an established history of shaping all aspects of media through both its students and professional involvement at every level,” he said.
The NPR board is responsible for governing the corporation. According to its Web site, the 17-member board “sets the policies and overall priorities of NPR management, monitors its performance, and provides financial oversight.” Ten directors are managers of NPR member stations and elected to the board by fellow member stations. The remaining directors include the NPR president, the NPR Foundation chair, and five prominent members of the public chosen by the board, and confirmed by NPR member stations, according to the Web site.
“We are very proud to have Greg Petrowich on the NPR National Board,” said Gary P. Kolb, dean of the College of Mass Communication and Media Arts. “This is a terrific professional honor and a testimony to Greg’s qualities as a leader in his field. We are fortunate to have someone of his talent to direct our PBS/NPR stations here in Southern Illinois. The College of Mass Communication and Media Arts salute him.”
Petrowich’s formal appointment is today (Nov. 12) at the NPR board meeting in Washington, D.C.
A Red Bud native who grew up in New Athens, Petrowich, has more than 18 years experience in public broadcasting, receiving his start as a volunteer coordinator at WSIU-FM from August 1989 to August 1990. He served as assistant operations manager at WSIU-FM from August 1990 to August 1991.
Petrowich earned his bachelor’s degree in radio-television from SIUC in 1991.
Prior to working in Alaska beginning in April 2002, Petrowich managed KRCU-FM, the public radio service at Southeast Missouri State University and served as operations director at KRCU-FM.
The University has another connection with the NPR Board. Joyce Slocum, who earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from SIUC in 1978, is NPR’s senior vice president of legal affairs, and general counsel. She also serves as the organization’s chief ethics officer and as secretary to the board of directors. Slocum earned her law degree from St. Louis University School of Law.