Comings and goings: PBS board welcomes new directors, PBS Reno announces VP change... October 5, 2026 Three station leaders joined the PBS board Tuesday during a meeting that marked the beginning of a new term of service. Station executives elected by PBS member stations to their first terms as professional directors include: Andrew Batt, GM of Iowa PBS; Jennifer Cook, executive director of WUCF in Orlando, Fla.; and Adrian Velarde, GM of KRWG Public Media in Las Cruces, N.M. Velarde took the seat previously held by Shae Hopkins, who will retire as CEO of Kentucky Educational Television this year. Two station leaders were reelected to new terms as professional directors: Greg Petrowich, CEO of WFYI in Indianapolis, and Susan Goldberg, CEO of GBH in Boston. Three general directors were reelected to new three-year terms on the board: Mildred García, chancellor for California State University, Marvin Irby, former CFO and CPO for the National Restaurant Association; and Gunjan Kedia, CEO of U.S. Bancorp. Two station leaders concluded their board service during the meeting: Michael Isip, CEO of KQED in San Francisco, and Sandra Cordova Micek, CEO of WTTW in Chicago. By a vote of the board, Catherine Robb, a media attorney and counsel for Haynes and Boone, LLP, was re-elected to her second one-year term as chair. Jayme Swain, CEO for VPM in Richmond, Va., was reelected as professional vice chair and Geoff Sands, former EVP of corporate strategy for Comcast, as general vice chair. What's happening in the world of public media? In addition, PBS Foundation board member Fred Berens, who recently served as the foundation's vice chair, is retiring. Berens first joined the PBS board in 2007 and he began serving on the foundation board in 2014. PBS Reno in Nevada announced a leadership change. Nancy Maldonado will retire as VP of education in December. Maldonado joined the station in 2017 after working as a teacher, principal and dean for the Washoe County School District. In a news release, Maldonado said working for the station "has truly been my dream job." She added: "I am deeply proud of the impact our Education team has made through Curiosity Classroom workshops, the Writers Contest, and Reading Buddies - helping thousands of children discover the joy of learning. The heartfelt comments from teachers, parents, and students have filled my heart with joy and reminded me every day why this work matters." Lori Crawford will succeed Maldonado. Crawford, who has been serving as interim VP of education since September, previously worked for the Washoe County School District. PBS Reno CEO Kurt Mische said Maldonado "guided our program through Covid and has been a valued member of our leadership team...Lori's experience and perspective make her the ideal candidate to fill the very big shoes that Nancy leaves behind. We are so fortunate to have these two exceptional people lead our education program. Our region will continue to benefit." Public Media co. named Gabrielle Jones head of sustainability for the Public Media bridge fund. Jones joined the firm last year as a director on its consulting team after working as director of digital news and audience for WNYC in New York. She previously worked as VP of content for Louisville Public Media and she held several roles for KERA in Dallas and VPM in Richmond, Va. "We're thrilled to see Gabrielle take on this opportunity and look forward to all she'll bring to the role. Please join us in congratulating her!" the company said on LinkedIn. Mike McKenzie, director of programming and public information for Alabama Public Television, will retire Nov. 30. "It's going to be tough to leave after 36 years," McKenzie said in an email to Current. Before joining APT, McKenzie was on-air promotion director for New Mexico PBS in Albuquerque from 1983-90, according to his LinkedIn page. APT Executive Director Wayne Reid announced McKenzie's departure Sept. 29 during a meeting of the Alabama Educational Television Commission, APT's licensee. McKenzie "knows where all the bodies are buried, where everything's at," Reid said. "... He is going to be sorely missed." After McKenzie leaves, APT will "focus on a marketing person and then a programming person, because Mike does that much for us," Reid said. Two Cincinnati Public Radio employees left the station. Kevin Reynolds, marketing and communications manager, retired. Reynolds joined the station in 2005 as community relations manager. "After 21 years, Cincinnati Public Radio decided my position was no longer necessary so I am concurrently retiring and looking for part-time work," he said on LinkedIn. "I am grateful for the support I've received and the leads I've been given, but the more the merrier!" Hannah McFarland-Pflum, digital marketing and social media manager, announced on LinkedIn that she stopped working for the station. She joined in 2024. "I'm incredibly grateful for the friendships, partnerships, and connections I have made along the way," she said. Marketing. Emma Yee was promoted to senior marketing manager for KQED. Yee joined the San Francisco station in 2024 as media and marketing campaigns manager. She previously worked as a client account manager for Reddit. Underwriting/Engagement. Caroline Spears will leave WBHM in Birmingham, Ala., where she directs corporate support and community engagement, Oct. 19. Spears joined the station in 2016 as traffic coordinator and was promoted in 2022. "After serving the heart of Alabama for the past 10 years at WBHM, I have decided to step away from public media and accept a new position with another incredible local nonprofit organization," Spears said on LinkedIn. "I am deeply grateful to WBHM for the opportunity to be part of a team where I always felt respected, valued, and appreciated. Leaving this special place that I have called home for so long is bittersweet." Content. Kelly Kenoyer will host Morning Edition for WHRO Public Media in Norfolk, Va. She succeeds Crizti Walsh, who will focus on hosting All Things Considered and Retro Underground, a music program. Kenoyer previously worked as a host and reporter for WHQR in Wilmington, NC. She has also produced a podcast for Investigative Reporters and Editors. Jackie Sedley will co-host Colorado Today, a daily public affairs podcast produced by Colorado Public Radio. She succeeds Bazi Kanani, who began hosting the station's Morning Edition broadcasts in April. Sedley, a freelance journalist, previously worked for KGNU in Boulder, Colo., as a Report for America member covering the climate and environment and later as news director. Adam Eisenberg is leaving his role as citizen journalism editor for PBS KVIE in Sacramento, Calif., to become senior manager of narrative and storytelling for Campus Compact, a nonprofit coalition of colleges. Eisenberg joined the station last year and helped launch Abridged, the local news website overseen by the station. "This period has been one of the most rewarding of my working life," he said on LinkedIn. "Abridged has grown faster than anyone anticipated, and we've been embraced by the Sacramento region for doing something so simple and so necessary... But now it's time to do something different." Nate Sanford joined the news staff at KNKX in Tacoma, Wash., as a local government reporter. Under a two-year Washington State University Murrow News Fellowship that ended this month, Sanford worked as a journalist for KNKX and Cascade PBS in Seattle. "I'm super excited to be staying on with KNKX," he said on LinkedIn, noting that his reporting will focus on issues related to tech, labor and housing. Ayah Ali-Ahmad left her position as an express desk reporter for KQED in San Francisco for a two-year fellowship with the Allbritton Journalism Institute. Under the institute's journalism training program, she will be a reporting intern for the Washington Sun, an online news site based in Washington, D.C. Ali-Ahmad joined KQED in 2025 for an internship as a newscast reporter. "Working at a historic public radio station alongside journalists this passionate about their communities was a gift, and I already miss it," she said on LinkedIn. "Now I'm off to D.C. to think about how these impact stories play out nationally, and where they begin. More soon!" Governance. Health care executive Anne Madsen was appointed chair of the board of WJCT Public Media in Jacksonville, Fla. Madsen is CFO for LSF Health Systems, a division of Lutheran Services Florida. Madseen previously served as board vice chair for the board. She succeeded Bill Hendrich, a retired EVP for the Cox Media Group, who remains on the board. Brian Bush, VP of e-commerce for the Tom Bush Family of Dealerships, was appointed treasurer. Fellowships. All Classical Radio in Portland, Ore., named Kaylee Nah its 2026-27 young artist in residence. Nah, a violinist and pianist, is a senior student at Sunset High School in Beaverton, Ore. She is a two-time concertmaster for Carnegie Hall's NYO2 summer orchestra program for teens and is co-concertmaster for the Portland Youth Philharmonic. "When I heard the news... I felt a mix of shock, excitement, and deep gratitude for this incredible one-of-a-kind opportunity," Nah said in a news release. "For years, I've enjoyed listening to All Classical Radio. I am continuously inspired by the global community of music actively created through the platform. Now, as a Young Artist in Residence, I am excited to promote the thrill that comes from the love of music." Current Reporter Tyler Falk contributed reporting to this column. Featured jobs. Seattle, WA Classical KING Phoenix, AZ Nashville Public Radio Norfolk, VA WHRO Public Media New York, NY Minnesota PBS Local Public Norfolk, VA WHRO Public Media Chicago, IL Norfolk, VA WHRO Public Media Salisbury, MD Delmarva Public Media

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Sesame Workshop, nature and PBS kids team up for 'Sesame Street and the Great Elephant Adventure' Elmo's African Safari Crossover Event Sesame Workshop and PBS Nature are teaming up for a primetime crossover special titled "Sesame Street and the Great Elephant Adventure." The special kicks off Nature's 45th season, premiering on Wednesday, October 14 at 8/7c on PBS and PBS KIDS. After adopting an orphaned elephant online, Elmo, Abby Cadabby, and Nina travel to Kenya's Sheldrick Wildlife Trust to meet their new friend and explore the African bush. The special takes young viewers beyond the sanctuary to witness iconic wildlife like lions, zebras, giraffes, and hippos in their natural habitats. Throughout the journey, Elmo navigates the emotional challenge of realizing his adopted elephant belongs in the wild. This heart-filled story teaches children essential lessons about wildlife conservation, empathy, and nature. Creative leaders designed the crossover to spark a lifelong interest in environmental stewardship among young children. Executive producer Sal Perez noted, "Bringing Elmo and the Sesame Street friends into the world of Nature allows us to tell a unique story filled with adventure, discovery, and heart." Families can stream the adventure across station-branded PBS platforms, including PBS.org and the PBS Video app. Production and cast behind the adventure. "Sesame Street and the Great Elephant Adventure" is a joint production between Sesame Workshop and The WNET Group. The special is directed and produced by Benjamin Lehmann, with executive producers Sal Perez, Kay Wilson Stallings, and Fred Kaufman guiding the creative vision. Guide Ms. Naserian, played by Silayio Kirisuah, helps lead the group through Kenya alongside sanctuary keepers. Production teams filmed on location in Kenya to bring real-world sights and sounds to early-childhood television. By blending live-action nature footage with beloved Muppet characters, the team creates an accessible entry point for ecological learning. The production highlights authentic cultural elements, local guides, and sanctuary conservationists working on the front lines. Producers hope the collaborative format will inspire families to appreciate wildlife together at home. Executive Producer Fred Kaufman shared, "Through Elmo and Abby's adventure, we hope families will be inspired to explore together and to discover why protecting wildlife is so important." The production reinforces that learning about animals fosters broader global awareness. Legendary histories of Sesame Workshop and PBS Nature. Sesame Workshop has empowered children for over 50 years through media, research, and educational outreach in over 150 countries. PBS Nature has delivered world-class natural history storytelling since 1982, earning over 800 honors including 21 Emmys and three Peabodys throughout its history. This collaboration combines decades of early childhood expertise with premier wildlife documentary filmmaking. Both institutions share a rich history of public broadcasting excellence and educational innovation. By uniting Sesame Street's approachable characters with Nature's breathtaking footage, public media continues to pioneer creative educational formats. Together, they demonstrate the enduring power of public television to educate and inspire audiences of all ages. This special continues a long tradition of meeting children where they are to foster curiosity and kindness. Parents can trust both iconic brands to deliver engaging content that respects a child's natural wonder. "Sesame Street and the Great Elephant Adventure" stands as a milestone celebration for public media storytelling.