January  31, 2008

New general manager for Augustana public radio station, WVIK 90.3 FM

Rock Island, Ill. - A new general manager has been chosen to lead Augustana's public radio station, WVIK 90.3 FM, only the third in the station's 27-year history. Frank Sundram, a veteran of more than 25-years of radio news and television production and management, will begin his duties at WVIK in early March.

Sundram is returning to the Quad Cities from Florida's Gulf Coast to become WVIK's general manager. He began his career in broadcasting as a producer for a commercial station in Buffalo, New York. Shortly thereafter, he moved to the Quad Cities and served as a news producer for WQAD-TV in 1982-83. He then worked for television stations in Buffalo, New York and Fayetteville, North Carolina before landing his first job in public radio when he became a morning news host and producer at a station in Fayetteville from 1987-89.

After completing his M.F.A. degree, Sundram moved to Gallup, New Mexico to serve as general manager of the University of New Mexico's Gallup campus station, and returned to Fayetteville's WFSS-FM as general manager in 1993. He has also held general manager positions with Long Island Public Radio in New York, and most recently at WKGC-FM, the public radio station based at Gulf Coast Community College in Panama City, Florida.

"The Quad Cities has long held a special place in my heart," said Sundram, who makes frequent trips to the area to visit close friends outside Geneseo. "Having enjoyed a long and rich connection to this area, I look forward to joining Augustana College and WVIK and getting to know the Quad Cities' arts and business community."

Lowell Dorman, who has served as WVIK's general manager since 2003, stepped down from his administrative role last December, but continues as host of "Morning Magazine," a local program of classical music airing weekday mornings from 9 am until noon. WVIK Development Director, Sonita Oldfield-Carlson, is serving as the station's interim general manager.

Dorman has been with WVIK since its earliest days, joining the station as one of four original staff members in 1980. He has served the station as Fine Arts Program Director, Program Director, Music Director, Station Manager, Chief Operator and General Manager.

"It has been a privilege to be able to conclude nearly a half-century career in broadcasting by being a part of the essential programming that public radio provides for the Quad Cities," said Dorman. "I am especially pleased that Augustana was able to find a successor who has a working knowledge of the unique aspects of our communities."

WVIK 90.3 FM is the Quad Cities leading public radio station, with a translator in Dubuque, Iowa, broadcasting at 95.7 FM. Licensed to Augustana College, the station serves an estimated 40,000 listeners each month with its format of news and classical music. The station is affiliated with National Public Radio and American Public Media. WVIK is funded by private and public support, which includes individual membership and gifts, foundation and corporate grants and underwriting, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The station went on the air on August 25, 1980.

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Kirby Winn
Director of Public Relations
Office: (309) 794-7473 Mobile: (309) 912-1532 Fax: (309) 794-3461
publicrelations@augustana.edu