Dan Skinner named director for KPR, Audio-Reader

LAWRENCE — A native Kansan and an experienced public media leader will serve as the new director for Kansas Public Radio and the Audio-Reader Network.

Dan Skinner currently works as the executive director and general manager at the WKSU network, which is affiliated with Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, and covers 22 counties in northeast Ohio. He will begin in his new role as director of KPR and Audio-Reader on Nov. 9.

“Dan’s enthusiasm for public media is evident, and by any account he has been a bold and collaborative leader,” said Tim Caboni, vice chancellor for public affairs at the University of Kansas. “We’re thrilled that he has chosen to bring his broad experience in public radio home to Kansas.”

Skinner grew up in Hutchinson and attended classes at KU in his junior year before graduating from Wichita State University. Before his work in Ohio, Skinner served as the president and general manager for Texas Public Radio in San Antonio, which also broadcasted an audio reading service.

He has also worked in other administrative roles at WBAA AM and FM, affiliated with Purdue University, and WBST, affiliated with Ball State University.

“Public radio extends the educational mission of the university into people’s homes, businesses, cars and digital devices,” Skinner said. “I would like to build on the strengths that are already present at KPR and Audio-Reader and to continue providing a wide variety of services to our audience.”

Audio-Reader, a reading service for the blind and print-disabled, serves more than 7,000 listeners in Kansas, Missouri and across the United States with the help of nearly 400 volunteers. Programming is available on special radios, over the telephone and on the Internet. Audio-Reader also provides audio descriptions of some live theater productions and other cultural events in Lawrence as well as Kansas City, Missouri. Volunteers maintain a sensory garden next to the Audio-Reader’s campus location at 1120 W. 11th St.

KPR broadcasts on 91.5 FM in Lawrence, 89.7 FM in Emporia, 89.9 FM in Atchison, 91.3 FM in Olsburg-Junction City, 89.9 FM in Atchison, 90.3 FM in Chanute, and 99.5 FM and 97.9 FM in Manhattan. A 15-time Kansas Association of Broadcasters Station of the Year, KPR also operates KPR2, a news-talk programming stream, which can be heard on an HD receiver or on kansaspublicradio.org.

Skinner said he looked forward to returning to Kansas.

“This is an opportunity to move back to my home state and to live in Lawrence again,” Skinner said. “I would take pride in serving the citizens of Kansas, and that means a lot to me.”