Our greatest strength is our people and their commitment to the public media mission. Both on the air and off... from creators to supporters... WUCF is a place where all contributions are respected, and every member of the team has the opportunity to grow, learn and make a meaningful impact in our local community and the world.
An award-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.
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. 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.
Deborah Pease
Executive Assistant and Office Concierge
407.823.1319
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.
Raychel Cesaro
Corporate Partnership Manager
Chris Doucette
Edu. & Engagement Coordinator
Sue Foster
Membership Services Associate
Marissa Gallo
Events Coordinator
Alexander Hehr
Membership Coordinator
Catherine Hiles
Grant Writer
Luciana Matera Roberts
Accountant
Jeannine Meade
Edu. & Engagement Coordinator
Lauren Nash
Education Services Manager
Evan Valle
Membership Manager
Julie is the Director of Content and provides strategic leadership and oversight of all WUCF's local and national content and programming across all platforms, including TV, FM, and digital, as well as communications and branding.
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 graduate of Michigan State University with a degree in journalism.
Heather Bailey
Exec. Producer/Florida Road Trip
Marcus Bly
Senior Producer/Florida Road Trip
Evan Conlan
Assistant Producer
Michael Corripio
Broadcast Production Manager
Joseph Dallas
WUCF Jazz Producer
Kristin Donnelly
Senior Digital Producer
Kyle Fuchs
Managing Producer
Ben Kassab
Production Coordinator
Brian Kelly
Editor
Jesse Morgado
WUCF Jazz Program Manager
Steve Mort
Exec. Producer/NewsNight
Krystal Knowles
Sr. Producer/NewsNight
Kayonne Riley
WUCF Jazz Director
Kirk Simpson
Traffic & Scheduling Manager
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.
Robert Campos
IT Support Specialist
Michael Herring
Chief Engineer
Jordan Kirkman
Assistant Chief Engineer
Mark Lundstrom
IT Manager
Steve Mort
Steve is the Host and Executive Producer for NewsNight and has been based in Orlando since 2005. Before joining WUCF in 2019, he traveled on assignment with the PBS NewsHour. He’s also reported for a wide variety of international news outlets.
Kayonne Riley
Kayonne has been a public radio host for more than 27 years, starting at KAMU-FM in College Station, TX.
Kayonne joined WUCF as Program Director and program host in 1994.
Joseph Dallas
Originally from south Florida, Joseph Dallas joined WUCF in March of 2024.
As an FM producer, he edits and produces a wide variety of the programs you hear on WUCF Jazz.
Alex Diaz
Alex Diaz has been cracking the Orlando microphone since the mid-90s.
When Alex is not entertaining you on WUCF Latin Jazz he is very active through Central Florida charities.
Bob Kelley
Bob is a native Floridian. He spent 22 years as a jazz broadcaster at 103.1 WLOQ.
Bob has been with WUCF Jazz February 2015 as host of Saturday Afternoon Jazz, adding host of Midday Jazz in 2019.
Jesse Morgado
Originally from Miami, Jesse first joined WUCF as an intern during his senior year in college. In addition to his role as Program Manager for WUCF Jazz, he hosts Midday Jazz and oversees the station’s podcast production.
Alan Rock
Alan has been in broadcasting for 65 years. Rock also played Bozo the clown on Bozo's Big Top TV show. In Orlando, he worked at WHOO-AM 990 before joining WUCF in 2002.
Jeff Rupert
Jeff is the Director of Jazz Studies at UCF. He is a saxophonist, composer, record producer, and recording artist.
In addition to his academic duties, Jeff hosts Jazz and the American Spirit on WUCF Jazz.
Saylove Yasmine
Saylove brings with her over 23 years of experience as a jazz radio producer and music curator.
In addition to her expertise in jazz, she is also recognized as a hip hop artist, author, and journalist.
Lauren Taylor, Education Services Manager
Lauren is the Education Services Manager at WUCF overseeing the station education team and initiatives including community events, educational content and grant funded projects. Before joining WUCF, Lauren worked in the public education system for over ten years in various roles including classroom teacher, new teacher mentor, interventionist, and instructional coach. Lauren is passionate about making educational content accessible and empowering caregivers to support their child's learning.
Jeannine Meade, Education Engagement Coordinator
Jeannine serves as the Education Engagement Coordinator at WUCF, spearheading family engagement initiatives in various community settings such as schools, libraries, and public spaces. Her role is dedicated to bridging the gap between school and home, empowering caregivers to engage in learning alongside their children and fostering an understanding that learning can be accessible and enjoyable. With a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education and Development, Jeannine brings over 15 years of experience as a Head Start teacher. Her passion lies in cultivating strong relationships within the community and with families across Central Florida.
Chris Doucette, Education Program Coordinator
As the Education Program Coordinator at WUCF, Chris contributes 17 years of experience in the education field to WUCF. With roles that include classroom teacher, technology liaison, curriculum writer, and teacher mentor, his expertise lies in educational practices and content development. Chris is dedicated to making learning accessible and equitable to all by creating and curating materials that support and encourage teachers to authentically engage students and empowers caregivers to actively participate in their child's education.
Evan Valle
WUCF Membership Manager
Alexander Hehr
Membership Coordinator
Sue Foster
Membership Associate
