WNYC Radio's Board of Trustees Elects New Officers

Nicki Newman Tanner Named New Chair

(March 29, 2004, New York, NY) - WNYC, New York Public Radio, today announced the election of Nicki Newman Tanner as Chair of its Board of Trustees. Mrs. Tanner, a member of the WNYC Radio Board of Trustees since 1997, brings over 30 years of experience in non-profit governance to the new appointment. She replaces Eduardo Mestre, who served as Chair from 1999 to 2004 and who will remain active on the Board.

The election took place during the Board's quarterly meeting in January 2004. Other officers elected during the meeting were Jean Angell, Vice Chair; Andrea Taylor, Vice Chair; Frank Yeary, Vice Chair; Lulu Wang, Secretary; Howard Stein, Treasurer.

"We are honored to have Nicki assume the role of Chair of the Board of Trustees," said WNYC President Laura Walker. "She brings a strong vision of the crucial role a vibrant, dynamic board plays in ensuring that a non-profit organization reaches its highest potential. She believes passionately in the mission of public radio, and we look forward to fulfilling that mission ever more deeply under her leadership."

"I'm thrilled to be a part of WNYC at this critical time in the station's, and our city's, history," said Mrs. Tanner. "For the last 20 years, every radio in our home has been tuned to WNYC. I can say as a long-time listener and fan that the station has never been stronger. At the same time, the need for the level of discourse public radio so brilliantly provides is greater than ever. WNYC plays an unparalleled role in educating, entertaining and enlightening New Yorkers. I look forward to continuing my work with WNYC in this new capacity."

Mrs. Tanner, an oral historian, is the Director of the Oral History Project at UJA-Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of New York, a position she has held since 1981.

Mrs. Tanner joined the WNYC Foundation Board of Directors in 1988, while the station was still owned by the City of New York. She has continued to serve on the Board of Trustees of WNYC Radio since it became an independent non-profit in 1997. Most recently, Mrs. Tanner served as co-Chair of the Development Committee and on the Trusteeship and Executive Committees. WNYC honored Mrs. Tanner at its 2001 Gala for her dedication to WNYC's independence.

Mrs. Tanner is an alumna and trustee emerita of Wellesley College, where she served on the Board for 18 years and played a leadership role in their fund-raising campaign. In addition to WNYC, Mrs. Tanner currently serves on the Boards of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, where she chairs the Educational Programs and Policies Committee; the Jewish Women's Archive; the New York Community Trust; and Hebrew Union College.

In 1985, Mrs. Tanner became a member of the Association of Governing Boards, which later became Boardsource, an organization dedicated to helping non-profits develop committed, active, and effective boards. She has written and presented extensively on the topic of women in philanthropy.

Mrs. Tanner and her husband, Harold, an investment banker, have three children and eight grandsons.

WNYC, New York Public Radio, is New York's premier public radio station, comprising WNYC 93.9 FM and WNYC AM 820. As America's most listened-to public radio stations, reaching more than one million listeners every week, WNYC FM and AM extend New York City's cultural riches to the entire country and air the best national offerings from affiliate networks National Public Radio and Public Radio International. WNYC 93.9 FM broadcasts a wide range of daily news, talk, cultural and classical music programming, while WNYC AM 820 maintains a stronger focus on breaking news and international news reporting.