A longtime public radio leader and native Kansan has been hired to become general manager of Kansas Public Radio and the Audio-Reader Network, Kansas University announced Tuesday.

Dan Skinner will begin the new job Nov. 9. He comes to KU’s affiliated public radio station from the WKSU network — affiliated with Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, and covering a 22-county area — where he is executive director and general manager.

Skinner praised KPR’s “eclectic programming” and “friendly, knowledgeable” sound, including engaged news coverage and music program hosts.

“They’re very much in touch with the communities they serve,” Skinner said.

“That speaks to the heart of what attracted me to public radio in the first place.”

Skinner also said he was excited about the opportunity to move back to Kansas and live in Lawrence.

Skinner, who grew up in Hutchinson, attended classes at KU in his junior year before graduating from Wichita State University, according to KU. Previously he was president and general manager for Texas Public Radio in San Antonio, which also had an audio reading service. He’s also worked in administrative roles at WBAA AM and FM, affiliated with Purdue University, and WBST, affiliated with Ball State University.

Dan Skinner

“Public radio extends the educational mission of the university into people’s homes, businesses, cars and digital devices,” Skinner said in KU’s news release. “I would like to build on the strengths that are already present at KPR and Audio-Reader and to continue providing a wide variety of services to our audience.”

Skinner said it would be premature to predict any potential changes at KPR until he’s been there long enough to “absorb” it, but one challenge he knows he will tackle is increasing awareness about the resources KPR provides.

“KPR does have a whole lot to offer and, like most public radio stations, there’s still a lot of awareness that needs to be generated,” he said. While many listeners tune in to the station daily, “there are still people that don’t even know you exist.”

Tim Caboni, KU vice chancellor for public affairs, said the university welcomed Skinner’s “broad experience in public radio.”

“Dan’s enthusiasm for public media is evident, and by any account he has been a bold and collaborative leader,” Caboni said in KU’s news release.

Skinner replaces former KPR general manager and Audio-Reader director Janet Campbell, who retired in September 2014. Campbell had been general manager of KPR and its precursor, KANU-FM, since 1998, following a year and a half as interim general manager.

Steve Kincaid, KPR’s director of engineering, led the station on an interim basis following Campbell’s departure.

KPR, online at kansaspublicradio.org, broadcasts on 91.5 FM in Lawrence, 89.7 FM in Emporia, 89.9 FM in Atchison, 91.3 FM in Olsburg-Junction City, 89.9 FM in Atchison, 90.3 FM in Chanute, and 99.5 FM and 97.9 FM in Manhattan.

Audio-Reader, a reading service for the blind and print-disabled, serves more than 7,000 listeners in Kansas, Missouri and across the United States via special radios, telephone and the Internet.