Most people know I spent 11 years at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). What many do not know is that my introduction to public media happened years earlier, in an office in downtown Boston, as a summer intern.

I interned in Boston at American Public Television (APT) in the communications department, led by Donna Hardwick at that time. Donna later became a mentor and a friend for more than 20 years. She supported me through graduate school applications, job searches, recommendations, and the moments when I needed honest career guidance.

APT gave me my first hands‑on experience in public media and communications. I put the skills I learned in the classroom at Hampton to write press releases, fact sheets, press kits, pitching and event planning. I also learned how content moved from producers to stations. I learned how distribution shaped what viewers across the country saw on their screens.

APT itself has played a major role in public television for decades. It is the leading syndicator of programming to public television stations nationwide. If you have ever watched America’s Test Kitchen, The French Chef Julia Child, Rick Steves’ Europe, Lidia’s Kitchen, Bob Ross, Midsomer Murders, or Pati’s Mexican Table, you have seen APT’s impact. They distribute hundreds of titles each year and support stations with content. That summer gave me a window into public media and content. I did not know it then, but that internship planted the seed for everything that came years later.

The Road to CPB

After graduating Hampton, I attended grad school at American University and completed an international internship in London at a PR firm. I spent several years working at an association management company. One day, I saw a job posting for a position at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. I applied, interviewed, and got the job. That moment became the true turning point.

At CPB, I progressed from a Project Coordinator to Project Manager to Director of Business Administration. I learned how federal funds support public television and radio stations. I learned how CPB partners with PBS and NPR. I learned how national initiatives come to life and how public media organizations work together to serve communities across the country. I never expected to stay for 11 years, but the mission kept me there. Every time I heard “This program was made possible by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting,” I felt a sense of pride. Even if I was not directly involved in a specific program or initiative, one of my colleagues was. Knowing that we played a part in bringing content to viewers and listeners meant something.

Why Public Media Still Matters

Public media is essential. It strengthens education. It elevates culture. It expands access to documentaries, journalism, and storytelling that reflect our communities. It provides content that is free, trusted, and available to everyone.

I did not know that an internship in Boston would influence major steps in my career, but it did. As I explore the next chapter of my professional journey, I am guided by the same principles that carried me from that internship to a decade at CPB. Growth is built on the experiences that teach you who you are and what you stand for. Whatever comes next will be grounded in purpose, shaped by mission, and informed by the values that have guided me from the very beginning.