Kernan Named Pres./CEO, Nashville Public Radio

• Nashville Public Radio has hired its next President & CEO — longtime public media executive Holly Kernan, who most recently served as Chief Content Officer for KQED/San Francisco, will succeed Steve Swenson, who had been on the job since early 2019 and announced his retirement earlier this year.

Kernan will now oversee 90.3 WPLN News, Triple A WNXP 91.1, and Nashville Classical Radio.

“It’s a reflection on the strength and growth of WPLN that we can attract someone with Kernan’s impressive media background from KQED, one of the most respected organizations within the public media industry,” said Neil Thorne, Board Chairman for Nashville Public Radio. “She brings a wealth of experience in leading teams.”

Kernan has deep public media roots, including more than a decade as News & Public Affairs Director for non-comm NPR affiliate KALW/San Francisco. During her tenure there she was the architect of the award-winning Public Interest Reporting Project. More recently, she played a central role in transforming KQED into a “digital-first” news organization. Kernan also launched a journalism-training program at Mills College, and has held teaching positions at UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism, Santa Rosa Junior College, and San Francisco State University.

Kernan said she’s impressed by the growth of Nashville Public Radio in recent years, commenting, “I’m thrilled to help shepherd this next phase of community service and to embrace my new home in Nashville.”