For Technical Issue: 

Email wucfengineering@wucf.org or call (407) 823-5343 

For FM 89.9:

Email wucfradioprogramming@wucf.org or call the 89.9 Jazz & More Hotline (407) 823-3689 

For TV Programming questions:

Email wucftvprogramming@wucf.org  or call is (407) 823-6646

WUCF SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM

Jennifer Cook, Executive Director, WUCF TV & FM

Jennifer Cook serves as the Executive Director and Assistant Vice President for WUCF TV & FM. Anaward-winning senior executive with a career dedicated to the media industry, Jennifer leads all of the station’s fundraising, technology, budget, creative, content and digital initiatives across all television, radio, digital and social media platforms.  

Majoring in Journalism at Michigan State University, Jennifer began her career in media as a weekend news producer at WSYM-TV, FOX 47, with her first venture into public media at WKAR-TV directing and producing television programming for WKAR Public Media in Michigan.   

Moving to the Central Florida community in 1998, Jennifer joined the Media Relations team at The Walt Disney Company.  Beginning her career with Walt Disney World, Jennifer had responsibility for local and national media coverage regarding all executive, dignitary and celebrity visits and partnerships. Jennifer then advanced to the Disney Cruise Line team and was a key part of the media strategy team for the launch of their newest cruise ship, the Disney Wonder.  

Prior to joining WUCF, Jennifer spent the next 14 years with Central Florida News 13 (now Spectrum News 13) in various leadership roles throughout the organization including news production, special projects, along with developing and managing the web team for CFNews13.com, Baynews9.com and the station’s social media platforms. 

Since joining WUCF in 2014, Jennifer has strategized, designed and implemented the station’s communications, education and engagement efforts for Central Florida’s newest and fastest growing PBS station. Jennifer assumed responsibility for WUCF TV’s content strategy in 2019. A true believer in the mission of public media and the power of television, Jennifer finds great passion in using our platform to tell the stories of our community and making education and entertainment accessible to all. Under Jennifer’s leadership, WUCF has garnered multiple awards, grants and accreditations and has established the national Meet The Helpers initiative to assist with giving parents and guardians the tools to have crucial conversations with our youngest and most impressionable audience members. She was named Executive Director in 2021. 

Jennifer holds a Masters in Arts in Mass Communications from the University of Central Florida and sits on various national boards within the national public media system. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Strategic Communications at the University of Central Florida. 

Contact Jennifer:

407-823-2947|jennifer.cook@wucf.org

Melissa Braillard, Director of Community Impact

Melissa Braillard is a nonprofit professional with two decades of experience with arts and culture organizations, specializing in fundraising, audience development, and communications.

In her current role as Director of Community Impact at WUCF, Melissa leads initiatives in fundraising, education, and community engagement, creating tangible positive effects across Central Florida. Under her leadership, WUCF has successfully raised over $15 million, benefiting more than 4.5 million individuals across nine counties. As President of the Association of Fundraising Professionals in Central Florida (AFP), Melissa's dedication to community service has been recognized with the prestigious Terri S. Chastain Award for Outstanding Fundraising Professional.

 Melissa is committed to uniting the community, inspiring impactful experiences, and fostering connections that enhance the lives of all Central Floridians. She lives in Longwood, FL with her husband and two tweens. BA: Washington State University. MFA: University of Central Florida.

Contact Melissa: Melissa.Braillard@wucf.org| 407-823-1777

Julie Sochay, Director of Content

Julie is the director of content for WUCF in Orlando, FL. In this role, she provides strategic leadership and oversight of all local and national content and programming across all platforms, including TV, FM, and digital, as well as communications and branding. WUCF is home to Central Florida's PBS and to 89.9 FM Jazz, which serves as a joint licensee with the University of Central Florida. Previously, Julie was senior director of content and communication for WKAR Public Media in East Lansing, MI where she oversaw content for television and created the vision and focus for communications and community engagement. Julie is a Public Media Diversity fellow with the Riley Institute at Furman University and a graduate of Michigan State University with a degree in journalism.

Contact Julie: Julie.Sochay@wucf.org| 407-823-6112

Kayonne Riley, Director of Radio

Kayonne Riley is the Director of WUCF FM 89.9 Jazz & More and serves as music director and midday host.  She began as the Program Manager at WUCF in 1994 and was responsible for transitioning the station from an eclectic programming schedule to one that broadcasts straight-ahead jazz and Latin jazz, NPR newsbreaks, and NPR and WUCF-produced arts and cultural programs.  Kayonne produces and hosts WUCF’s: Live from Studio A – a one hour concert for both radio and television broadcastthat has featured over 200 performing jazz artists.  Additionally, Kayonne is an adjunct professor at the University of Central Florida, teaching Radio Programming and Production to senior level Communications majors. Prior to WUCF, Kayonne served at KAMU FM 90.9 in College Station as Program and Music Director and hosted daily jazz and classical music programs.  Kayonne is motivated by the power of music – a love that began at a young age listening to her Mother’s vintage recordings of Dave Brubeck, Stan Kenton, and Louis Armstrong – and led to a lifetime career of spreading the joy of music.

Contact Kayonne: Kayonne.Riley@wucf.org| 407-823-0899

Bill Dotson, Director of Operations & Engineering

Bill has worked at the University of Central Florida since 2004 when hired as the first employee of The UCF Channel/UCF TV, a digital TV channel partnership with Brevard Community College/WBCC TV in Cocoa.  The WBCC/UCF TV partnership expanded in July 2011 to keep PBS in Central Florida after the primary Orlando PBS station, WMFE TV 24, ended its PBS affiliation.  UCF negotiated the purchase of the WMFE TV license and restored PBS to TV 24 with new call letters WUCF TV in November 2012. Bill has a degree in Communications Management from Ohio University.  He has worked in commercial and public radio and television broadcasting since 1987. He has a diverse broadcast background and has worked in multiple capacities including programming, promotions/marketing, sales, production, traffic, and operations.

Contact Bill: Bill.Dotson@wucf.org| 407-823-3280