Nathan Vandiver has been named general manager of UA Little Rock Public Radio, home of KUAR FM 89.1 and KLRE Classical 90.5. 

“I’m excited and grateful for this opportunity,” Vandiver said. “Public radio is an essential media service for our community, and I am honored to be able to lead this organization. I look forward to continuing the work of our staff and the Friends of KUAR/KLRE board has done these past three years to grow our service and find new ways to engage with our community.”

Vandiver, who also works as the program director, has served as the interim general manager of UA Little Rock Public Radio since 2016. He is responsible for developing and maintaining program policy, supervising programming staff, selecting on-air programming, and overseeing the quality of on-air sound.

“During this time, he has led the radio station in a strong and positive direction, and I very much appreciate his continued leadership,” said Dr. Julien Mirivel, interim dean of the College of Social Sciences and Communication. “I will look forward to seeing our public radio continue to thrive under his guidance in the many years to come.”

During his time as interim general manager, Vandiver has overseen upgrades to KLRE’s and KUAR’s control rooms with new broadcast consoles and audio control systems, expanded development efforts with an increased focus on major and planned gifts, and two years of significant growth in revenue from underwriting and individual giving.

Vandiver received a bachelor’s degree in journalism from UA Little Rock in 2011. He started his career at UA Little Rock Public Radio as an intern in the spring 2009 semester. After a successful internship, he was hired as a part-time reporter and anchor. Vandiver was promoted to program director in 2013. Vandiver lives in Little Rock with his wife, Julie, and sons, Henry and Charlie. 

“I began my journey in radio as a listener,” Vandiver said. “I found public radio at a time in my life when I was seeking a broader perspective on how the world around me worked. My experience at KUAR began with an internship. As a university licensee at the state’s only metropolitan university, I look forward to providing similar opportunities for students to learn broadcasting and journalism through internships at a professional media setting.”

Last year, Vandiver was honored with the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network 20 over 20 Award. The award celebrates the accomplishments of nonprofit professionals over the age of 20 and establishes them as emerging or current leaders in the nonprofit sector.

Vandiver said the key to success for a nonprofit organization is focusing on the people the nonprofit serves and carrying out the organization’s mission.

“As a public radio station, we keep our listeners first and foremost in our minds when we make decisions,” he said. “To connect to other nonprofits, keeping those we serve in the forefront of our minds is the key to success and not losing sight of our mission. While public media stations like KLRE and KUAR are essential public services, we must continue to work to build them up, tell their stories and expand their services.”