The KMHD staff is preparing to say goodbye to its longtime leader; Lynne Clendenin will retire as VP of programming for Oregon Public Broadcasting and station manager for KMHD, effective March 31.
Across her many public media roles, from Weekend Edition host to co-host of Oregon Art Beat to her current position as one of the country’s most influential public media programmers, Clendenin has constantly set a positive example for those she works with. She has served as KMHD’s constant champion at OPB, and in many ways as the station’s spiritual guide. The staff at KMHD will miss her creative mind and her talent for building positive and inspiring work environments. KMHD’s public service is healthy and robust in large part because of her.
Having gotten her start in media as a jazz announcer, Jazz Director and television host for Oregon State University’s KBVR station, Clendenin’s knowledge of and love for jazz has shone through in her leadership at KMHD, where she has served as station director since the station came under OPB management in 2009. Working her way up at OPB from a job at the front desk, Clendenin has been OPB’s Vice President of Programming since 2006.
In a note to her colleagues in public broadcasting, she said, “Public media has a critical responsibility moving forward and in many ways I will miss not being a part of it. I know it’s time to hand the baton to others who can enthusiastically, energetically, knowledgeably and passionately play a role in leading the way forward.”
All of the staff at KMHD wish to thank Lynne for her service to the station, and for sharing her good ideas, wisdom, and caring temperament with us for these past 11 years.