University of Tennessee Public News/Talk/Classical 91.9 WUOT Knoxville TN has appointed Jody Hamblett as General Manager.
Hamblett has risen through the on-air and programming ranks in her career serving as a television news reporter in Dayton and Burlington VT before a decade at Vermont Public Radio as Director of Programming from 1998-2008. She then programmed KUT Austin in 2008-09 before joining Blue Ridge Public Radio in Asheville NC as President/CEO from 2010-14. Hamblett was then President/CEO of the Public Radio Program Directors Association until 2019 and since then has served as Executive Director of the Asheville Humane Society and Greenville Area Parkinson Society.
Jody Hamblett, a seasoned industry professional with over 20 years of public radio experience, has been named the next general manager of WUOT-91.9 FM effective Aug. 14. Qualified by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and licensed to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, listener-supported WUOT is a member of NPR and an affiliate of the Public Radio Exchange and American Public Media. It serves listeners throughout East Tennessee and parts of Kentucky, North Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia.
Hamblett brings a wealth of experience in managing public radio stations, including her successful leadership at Blue Ridge Public Radio, a 14-station regional network serving western North Carolina, North Georgia, South Carolina, and East Tennessee. Under her leadership listener revenue accelerated by 67% and underwriting revenue increased by 34%. Major giving grew over 30% in one year.
“We are thrilled to welcome Jody Hamblett to WUOT,” said Joseph Mazer, dean of UT’s College of Communication and Information. “With her expertise and accomplishments, Jody is well equipped to drive WUOT’s success and further our university’s land-grant mission by delivering exceptional public radio programming to our communities.”
On July 1, WUOT was incorporated into the College of Communication and Information. The transition leverages the expertise of East Tennessee’s NPR station and that of the college’s faculty and staff to provide rich content for WUOT listeners and more experiential learning opportunities for students.
“I am beyond excited to work with the team at WUOT,” said Hamblett. “The station is positioned for great success and ready to blossom into an essential and trusted source of journalism and content that reflects the region.”
Hamblett joins WUOT from her role as executive director of Greenville Area Parkinson’s Society in Greenville, South Carolina. She has a demonstrated track record of success in management, fundraising and strategic planning for nonprofit organizations in public media, animal welfare and higher education.
Hamblett holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from Wright State University. She is regularly asked to advise on national programs by NPR, American Public Media and Public Radio International. Hamblett is the recipient of various awards including the Gracie Allen Award for Outstanding Community Radio Programming and a Gabriel Award.
Hamblett succeeds Regina Dean, who retired in May after a 30-year career at the helm of WUOT.
