AUSTIN, Texas—Dean Ellen Wartella of the College of Communication at The University of Texas at Austin has named J. Stewart Vanderwilt as KUT Radio’s new general manager, effective Feb. 14.
Vanderwilt leaves his position as general manager (from 1995-1999) of Indiana Public Radio – WBST-FM at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind. He served as station manager at WBST-FM from 1992-1994.
Under his leadership at Ball State, Vanderwilt managed the construction of four satellite stations, creating the five-station Indiana Public Radio service. He also developed Indiana Public Radio’s news department as the leading contributor of midwest news to National Public Radio (NPR). These efforts were recognized with more than two dozen awards for news excellence including the radio and television news directors regional Edward R. Murrow Award.
Vanderwilt served as executive producer for Rock & Roll America, an examination of contemporary American history through popular music. The program was locally written and produced and distributed by NPR. He also developed partnerships with university departments to offer practicuum and internship credit to undergraduate students, and produced several outreach projects for special news series. While serving as station manager, he developed a business plan to build WBST from one of the smallest radio operations into one of the largest in the state.
“This is a wonderful career and cultural opportunity for me and my family — to become the general manager of one of the leading stations in the country in a community that is consistently listed as one of the best places to live in the United States,” Vanderwilt said. “We are very excited about the move, but it was a very difficult decision to leave Indiana Public Radio and its dynamic staff, as well as the stimulating atmosphere of Ball State University and all our friends here.”
Vanderwilt earned his bachelor of science degree in business and marketing from Ball State University. His professional activities include current program chairman of the American Advertising Federation and membership in the National Association of Broadcasters.
“I am very excited that Stewart has agreed to join us here in Austin,” Wartella said. “He is a man of vision, energy and creativity, which I know he will put to good use in leading one of the nation’s finest public radio stations. His love of radio is compelling and contagious. . . . I know he is the person to manage the station into the next millennium.”
