Jordan L. Siegler named Wisconsin Public Media Interim Executive Director

November 1, 2024 Erik Ernst Leave a Comment

Jordan L. Siegler has been named Interim Executive Director of Wisconsin Public Media (WPM), the division at the University of Wisconsin–Madison that oversees PBS Wisconsin and Wisconsin Public Radio (WPR). Siegler currently serves as Associate Director of WPM. The announcement follows the recent death of Executive Director Heather L. Reese.

The Upper Peninsula of Michigan native and Madison resident is a graduate of Finlandia University’s International School of Art & Design and is a Public Media Diversity Fellow of The Riley Institute at Furman University. Since joining WPM in 2015, Siegler has taken on numerous roles, including Interim Chief Development Officer for WPR and Managing Director of Corporate Giving and Events for PBS Wisconsin.

As Interim Executive Director, Siegler will lead the UW-Madison division of approximately 280 full-time and 60 part-time and student staff, and oversee a budget of $35 million from multiple and variable revenue sources, including university, state and federal allocations; audience memberships; major and planned gifts; business sponsorships; special events; and sales of goods and services.

A partnership of UW-Madison and the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board (ECB), public media’s broadcasting infrastructure and statewide reach delivers commercial-free programming, education services and public safety alerts that serve and help protect Wisconsin residents in every corner of the state. Each month, more than one million Wisconsinites turn to PBS Wisconsin and WPR for trusted journalism, compelling programming and educational resources that encourage lifelong learning.

“We are all still grieving the loss of Heather, and a change in leadership, especially one that comes after the sudden loss of a colleague, is especially challenging,” said Amy Gilman, UW-Madison Senior Director for the Arts and Media. “I am confident Jordan will lead the organization with the same integrity and vision that is the hallmark of WPM leadership. With Jordan’s leadership the division will continue to set strategic priorities to ensure that PBS Wisconsin and WPR remain the essential, high-quality services that have such a positive impact across Wisconsin and help UW-Madison meet its promise of the Wisconsin Idea.”

“I have worked with Jordan since he began his public media career and I am inspired by his commitment to our statewide services,” said Marta Bechtol, ECB Executive Director. “I look forward to working more closely with him, understanding that although we are grieving, our strategy remains clear and our organization is strong.”

“It is a wholehearted honor to answer the call to serve Wisconsin communities through public media and to build upon the remarkable legacies of WPR and PBS Wisconsin,” Siegler said. “At the same time, I am deeply saddened by the loss of Heather, my mentor and friend. As executive director, Heather provided a vision for WPM that inspired me, and her coaching and guidance bettered me. Thanks in large part to her, I am now prepared to carry our mission forward with resilience. ”

UW-Madison will provide updates about the status of a planned national search for the executive director of WPM when available.

University of Wisconsin-Madison Wisconsin Public Radio PBS WIsconsin Wisconsin Public Media