St. Louis Public Radio is pleased to announce the promotions of Melody Freeman to Director of Business Administration, and of Jade Harrell to Director of On-Demand & Content Partnerships, who combined offer decades of valuable experience to their respective positions, and who will serve on the station’s senior leadership team.
Freeman began service to the University of Missouri-St. Louis in June 1998, and joined St. Louis Public Radio in March 2018 as the station’s financial accountant and analyst. Her depth of institutional knowledge and experience, collegial relationships across the University of Missouri System and the enthusiastic recommendation of her appointment from many of her coworkers made Freeman an excellent candidate for the position of Director, Business Administration. As Director, Freeman oversees all fiscal operations for the station including budget management, gift receipts, accounting and supervision of STLPR finance and administration staff. She receives direct supervision from UMSL CFO Tanika Busch.
“As soon as the opening was announced, staff started coming to me to make a point of sharing their appreciation and support of Melody in the role, and my experience of her is completely consistent with the feelings of the staff," said Interim General Manager Tom Livingston. "Our finance and administration area, which Melody is now leading, is where our most significant partnership with the University system occurs. Considering her deep engagement with UMSL over many years, including working in different departments, and her clear, strong relationships across the finance department at the University, Melody is the perfect person for this role, and I know station staff and UMSL share my excitement.”
Harrell has served UMSL and St. Louis Public Radio since 2018, when she joined the station as an on-air host, lending her warm and confident delivery to broadcasts on 90.7 KWMU-1. An award-winning radio and tv host and producer whose passion for community and storytelling matured at iHeart Radio, she was host and producer of the legacy community affairs program Sunday Morning Live for more than 13 years. In her new role as Director of On-Demand & Content Partnerships, Harrell oversees the We Live Here podcast team and will be identifying and cultivating new community partnerships for podcasts. She receives direct supervision from Livingston.
“In addition to and in partnership with our newsroom, the work Jade is leading—our work in podcasting and on-demand and content partnerships—is crucial to the future of maintaining and growing STLPR’s relevance and service to the St. Louis region and beyond," said Livingston. "Growing our presence in and engagement with all the communities we serve is also essential. With her years of production experience, including those as an on-air host at STLPR, and her presence in and involvement with the community, Jade is the ideal choice for this role,” he said.
“I’m thrilled to have a seat at the table and bring my enthusiasm, experience and expertise to the powerful platform of St. Louis Public Radio," said Harrell. "I respect that the station honored my terms and started me at equity, instead of simply cracking open the door and having me fend for myself and try to claw my way to equity. My commitment to community now has a partner, a platform and an opportunity to fully engage. I’m honored to be a part of history and plan to be a force for good, a space for healing and a megaphone for the voices of our community,” said Harrell.
St. Louis Public Radio is grateful to Melody and Jade for their acceptance of these leadership roles, and looks forward to the oversight and guidance both will provide as STLPR enters its next chapter.