ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. — Since 1971, she has been a notable team member at the radio stations she’s been associated with. This includes 15 years at the NPR Member station serving the Tampa Bay region and its Classical companion serving Sarasota, Bradenton and fast-growing Lakewood Ranch, now home to Mick Jagger.
By the end of this year, retirement will be her key focus.
A 53-year career will be concluding for Sheila Rue, presently the Program Director for the University of South Florida’s WUSF-FM in Tampa, focused on NPR spoken word programming, and locally programmed Classical WSMR-FM in Sarasota.
“Sheila’s influence was felt in every activity at WUSF from the sound of WUSF 89.7 and Classical WSMR to the membership campaigns in which she was a passionate presence on the air,” said WUSF General Manager JoAnn Urofsky. “Nationally, she trained nearly 380 program directors through pre-conference workshops she led. She leaves a legacy of excellence in radio broadcasting and friendships with public radio staffers across the country and listeners in the Tampa Bay region who knew she put the audience first and we’re proud to have worked with her.”
A 1983 graduate of Murray State University in radio and television with a Masters in Communication, Rue has led the programming at WUSF since 2009. During this tenure, Classical WSMR was launched; it can be heard on an FM translator at 103.9 MHz in Hillsborough County and parts of St. Petersburg in addition to WUSF’s HD2 signal.
Prior to WUSF, Rue served as the Program Director for the University of Southern California’s Classical KUSC-FM in Los Angeles, holding the role from 1998-2000.
“When asked what I would miss the most, I said – the staff – all my workmates who are truly the best in public radio. And I should know, I’ve worked a lot of places! I can’t thank them enough for the hard work every day that was so rewarding for me, as we serve the best audience in public radio – people and organizations who support and appreciate our mission,” Rue said. “Our work here as a non-profit broadcaster is intentionally designed as a service to the residents of Florida, and we take that opportunity and responsibility very seriously. WUSF and WSMR are true gems, and I know everyone will continue the work on behalf of the wonderful people who live here.”
WUSF will begin a national search for a new Program Director in the coming weeks.
