New Membership Director Named for U of A's NPR Affiliate KUAF 91.3 FM

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Cheri Ottaviano, KUAF 91.3 Public Radio's new membership director.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Cheri Ottaviano has been named the new membership director of KUAF 91.3 FM, the University of Arkansas-based National Public Radio affiliate. Ottaviano previously worked with the U of A’s Division of University Advancement on the gift services team for seven years, most recently as a development specialist.  

Ottaviano succeeds Leigh Wood in the role. Wood was named KUAF’s general manager in August.

“We are very excited to have Cheri join us,” Wood said. “Her knowledge of and experience in KUAF’s systems and the university’s systems will bring our membership program to a new level.”

Ottaviano brings more than 35 years of administrative experience to the role. Prior to joining the U of A seven years ago, she spent 14 years with the Little Rock-based marketing and advertising firm Comb’s & Company, and two years with Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas in Little Rock.

“I have been fortunate to be able to volunteer and support KUAF over the last seven years,” Ottaviano said. “I am humbled and excited to have the opportunity to support KUAF’s mission, amazing staff, and donors as its membership director.”

As membership director, Ottaviano will manage and improve the annual membership plan for KUAF, including strengthening relationships with existing members, and developing and implementing strategies for encouraging listeners to become members.

About KUAF 91.3FM: Owned by the University of Arkansas, KUAF provides a 14-county area of west and northwest Arkansas, parts of eastern Oklahoma and southern Missouri with the only source of national and international news from National Public Radio as well as a daily local news magazine Ozarks at Large. Serving a potential audience of over 600,000 people, KUAF also offers classical music during the night time hours and a variety of public radio programs on the weekends. Located across the street from the Fayetteville Public Library, at 9 S. School Avenue, KUAF is at the center of the intellectual and artistic hub of northwest Arkansas. 

About the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences: The J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences is the largest and most academically diverse unit on campus with three schools, 16 departments and 43 academic programs and research centers. The college provides the core curriculum for all University of Arkansas students and is named for J. William Fulbright, former university president and longtime U.S. senator.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among fewer than 3% of colleges and universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.