WKU Receives Gift From Former Professor, Administrator

November 12, 2008

Bowling Green, Ky. - A gift from a former Western Kentucky University professor and administrator will allow students to gain hands-on experience with the University’s public broadcasting program – a program he helped create during his tenure at WKU.
 
Dr. Charles Anderson and his wife, Faye — both of whom are alumni of WKU — recently made a $100,000 gift to create the Charles M. Anderson Public Broadcasting Fellowship. According to Jack Hanes, WKU’s director of Educational Telecommunications, this endowment, when fully funded, will provide for up to three fellowships per year to allow students in the WKU School of Journalism & Broadcasting to work at WKYU-PBS and WKU Public Radio.
 
“The funds will provide the tuition costs for these students to enroll in the School of Journalism & Broadcasting internship program, pay them an hourly wage, and provide a cash stipend for their efforts,” Hanes said. “This program will benefit students in the School of Journalism & Broadcasting at WKU by providing them with an in-depth exposure to the professional environment of WKU Public Broadcasting, working side-by-side with some of the best broadcasting professionals in the nation. At the same time, the fellowship program will benefit the operations of WKU Public Broadcasting by providing the valuable human resources of additional staffing in the areas of radio news and video production.”

Hanes announced that Lindsay Peters, a senior broadcasting major from Columbia, Tenn., is the first recipient of the Anderson Fellowship.
 
Dr. Anderson remains active as a broadcasting entrepreneur and consultant.  He completed his higher education career in 2003 after serving for four years as the vice chancellor for Information Technology and Outreach for the University of Alabama System. In 1999, he retired from WKU after a 31-year career as an administrator and faculty member.

Dr. Anderson was WKU’s first vice president for Information Technology, heading up the initial networking of the WKU campus, as well as the conceptualization and planning for what is now Mass Media and Technology Hall. He led the establishment of WKU’s public television station, WKYU-TV, the four-station public radio network, and the student radio station (WWHR), as well as the interactive television system and the campus cable system. In 2002, he was awarded the status of professor emeritus in Journalism and Broadcasting at WKU. 

Faye Anderson also spent 13 years working for WKU, serving as Coordinator of Degree Certification and athletic certification officer in the Office of the Registrar.

“The gift is designated for the support of student fellowships in public television (WKYU-TV) and public radio for broadcasting majors working in those facilities in professional level capacities,” Dr. Anderson said. “Although the funds will be administered by Western’s Telecommunications area, it will also benefit the School of Journalism & Broadcasting, and their faculty will be involved in the selection of students to receive the fellowships.”
 
Dr. Anderson is also one of the co-chairs for the faculty/staff component of WKU’s New Century of Spirit Campaign, a five-year $200 million campaign designed to support WKU’s vision to be a leading American university with international reach.
 
“I believe that those of us who have the privilege of a career in higher education should also make our institution a priority in our charitable giving,” Dr. Anderson said.
 
Hanes said the Andersons’ gift will have an enormous impact on Public Broadcasting at WKU.  “This is the first major gift of its kind for WKU public media,” he said. “Not only does it provide valuable financial resources to enhance our efforts in on-air programming, it also enhances student learning, something we have been very successful in accomplishing through our partnerships with the School of Journalism & Broadcasting.

“We are extremely grateful for Dr. and Mrs. Anderson’s generous gift. It is so rewarding to know that Dr. Anderson has the interest and confidence in our program to invest in its future in this way,” he continued. “It is good to know that the positive influence created by this fellowship will continue far into the future.”

WKU President Gary Ransdell said: “This is a significant gift from Chuck and Faye. They understand how important our public broadcasting programs are to WKU and populations throughout our region. Chuck helped build these programs; now he is insuring a strong future for them.”
               
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