WDET Staff
Meet the group of awesome people that keep your favorite radio station up and running.
Leadership
Mary Zatina
General Manager
Mary Zatina came to WDET as General Manager in 2020. She is responsible for all aspects of the station's public service to the Metro Detroit community.
Jowana Moore
Business Manager
Jerome Vaughn
News Director
Jerome Vaughn is News Director at 101.9 WDET. His interest in news reporting began when he was five years old, after his mom bought him a yellow Panasonic ball and chain radio.
Joan Isabella
Program Director
Joan Isabella is Program Director for 101.9 WDET. She has been a leader in media programming and promotion in Detroit for 25 years.
Carmen Garcia
Associate Director of Philanthropy
Carmen Garcia is Associate Director of Philanthropy for 101.9 WDET and wears many hats, all of which build relationships for WDET.
Programming
Stephen Henderson
Host, Detroit Today
Stephen Henderson is host of Detroit Today and a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist. He is Executive Editor of BridgeDetroit and host of American Black Journal on Detroit Public Television.
Jake Neher
Senior Producer, Detroit Today; Host, MichMash
Jake Neher is senior producer for Detroit Today and host of MichMash for 101.9 WDET. He previously reported on the Michigan Legislature for the Michigan Public Radio Network. He stays sane by spending a lot of time in his vegetable garden in the summer or obsessively watching gardening tutorial videos online when it's cold out.
Annamarie Sysling
Producer, Detroit Today
Anna Sysling is a producer for Detroit Today with Stephen Henderson and reports on environmental issues. When she’s not at work, Sysling is probably riding her bike around the city or out in her garden.
Ryan Patrick Hooper
Host, CultureShift
Ryan Patrick Hooper is the award-winning host and producer of CultureShift on 101.9 WDET-FM Detroit’s NPR station. As a longtime arts and culture reporter and photographer, Hooper has covered stories for NPR, Detroit Free Press, Hour Detroit, SPIN and Paste magazine. He was awarded the RTDNA Regional Edward R. Murrow Award for feature reporting in 2020. His juggalo-inspired I.C.Pizza costume was selected by the Huffington Post as one of the best Halloween costumes of 2014.
Amanda LeClaire
Host, CultureShift
Amanda LeClaire is Host of CultureShift and is a founding producer of both of WDET's locally-produced daily shows. She's been involved in radio and the arts in Detroit for over a decade.
LaToya Cross
Producer, CultureShift
LaToya Cross is a Producer and writer on CultureShift with a passion for highlighting creatives using their platform to shape, shift and analyze society through an artistic lens.
Myreo Dixon
Producer, DRIS
Myreo Dixon is a Producer/Reader at Detroit Radio Information Service (DRIS). As a person with a disability, he understands the importance of having the resources available to live a productive life.
David Leins
Project Coordinator
David Leins is a Podcast Coordinator and Producer at WDET. He also oversees the StoryMakers program. When he isn't making radio and podcasts, David is probably on a hike somewhere marveling at the trees.
News
Pat Batcheller
Host, Morning Edition; Senior News Editor
Pat Batcheller is a host and Senior News Editor for 101.9 WDET, presenting local news, traffic and weather updates during Morning Edition. He is an amateur musician.
Quinn Klinefelter
Senior News Editor
Quinn Klinefelter is a host and Senior News Editor for 101.9 WDET, anchoring midday newscasts and reporting stories for WDET, NPR and the BBC. He was literally on top of the news when he finished an interview with then-Senator Bob Dole by stepping on his shoes.
Meta Stange
Digital Content and Engagement Manager
Meta Stange is the Digital Content and Engagement for 101.9 WDET, overseeing all of the station's digital editorial content. She enjoys reading, making bad jokes, and hanging out with her dog, Salmon.
Eli Newman
Reporter/Producer
Eli Newman is a Reporter/Producer for 101.9 WDET, covering breaking news, politics and community affairs. His favorite Motown track is “It’s The Same Old Song” by the Four Tops.
Sascha Raiyn
Education Reporter
Sascha Raiyn is Education Reporter at 101.9 WDET. She is a native Detroiter who grew up listening to news and music programming on Detroit Public Radio.
Russell McNamara
Host, All Things Considered
Russ McNamara is the host of All Things Considered for 101.9 WDET, presenting local news to the station’s loyal listeners. He's been an avid listener of WDET since he moved to Metro Detroit in 2002.
Laura Herberg
Reporter
Laura Herberg is a Reporter for 101.9 WDET, telling the stories about people inhabiting the Detroit region and the issues that affect us here. She is a proud homeowner in Highland Park, Mich.
Tia Graham
Host, Weekend Edition
Tia Graham is a reporter and Weekend Edition Host for 101.9 WDET. She graduated from Michigan State University where is had the unique privilege of covering former President Barack Obama and his trip to Lansing in 2014.
Nargis Hakim Rahman
Civic Reporter
Nargis Hakim Rahman is the Civic Reporter at 101.9 WDET. Rahman graduated from Wayne State University, where she was a part of the Journalism Institute of Media Diversity.
Alex McLenon
Associate Producer
Alex McLenon is an Associate Reporter/Producer with 101.9 WDET. McLenon is a graduate of Wayne State University, where he studied Media Arts & Production and Broadcast Journalism.
Music hosts
Ann Delisi
Host, Ann Delisi's Essential Music
Ann Delisi hosts Essential Music, the Essential Conversations podcast series and the Essential Cooking broadcast and podcast. Born and raised in the Motor City, Ann is a broadcaster, interviewer, producer, music host, storyteller and proud Detroiter.
Chris Campbell
Host, The Progressive Underground
Chris Campbell has a deep interest in curating Detroit's rich music scene and presenting it to the world-at-large.
Ed Love
Host, Destination Jazz: The Ed Love Program
For more than 37 years, Ed has delighted listeners with Destination Jazz: The Ed Love Program on Saturdays weekdays from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on WDET 101.9FM. Starting in 1960, he worked at various stations throughout Detroit until finally joining WDET in 1983.
Jon Moshier
Host, Modern Music
Jon Moshier is host of Modern Music. Always with an ear to the underground, Moshier presents the best in new music and emerging artists each week.
Rob Reinhart
Host, Rob Reinhart's Essential Music, Acoustic Cafe, CultureShift
Rob Reinhart is host of WDET's "Essential Music," "CultureShift" and the syndicated program "Acoustic Cafe," heard on 125 stations around the country, and stations from Greece to New Zealand. He's voted in 10 presidential elections: 4 wins, 6 losses.
Ismael Ahmed
Host, This Island Earth
Ismael Ahmed is the host of “This Island Earth." The son of first-generation immigrants, Ismael Ahmed is co-founder of The Arab American National Museum in Dearborn and now serves as an executive member of its advisory board.
Nick Austin
Host, Soul Saturday
Nick Austin hosts Soul Saturday, merging genres like soul and hip-hop with electronica and funk into a rich tapestry of sound that is uniquely Detroit.
Jay Butler
Host, Jay's Place
Jay Butler hosts Jay's Place. With almost five decades of broadcast experience, he is a familiar voice to generations of Detroiters.
Audio Engineering
Sam Beaubien
Creative Producer
Sam Beaubien is a musician, composer, producer, and educator in Detroit. He is also the founder and leader of the acclaimed ensemble, Will Sessions.
Rowan Niemisto
Audio Engineer, Producer
Rowan Niemisto is an audio engineer for the station, making sure all promos, spots, pre-recorded shows, and everything else that makes it to air or digital sounds clean and crisp.
Nathan Bender
Audio Production Assistant
Underwriting
Lisa Brancato
Senior Underwriting Representative
Lisa Brancato joined 101.9 WDET in 2011 as Senior Underwriting Sales Representative and Events Manager. Brancato is a passionate Detroiter and enjoys bike riding, brisk walks and shopping estate sales.
Michael Perkins
Senior Underwriting Representative
Michael Perkins is 101.9 WDET's Senior Underwriting Representative.
Michael Rankin
Underwriting Representative
Michael Rankin is an Underwriting Representative for 101.9 WDET-FM, working with businesses and advertising agencies to build campaigns and events that engage with WDET's audience. Rankin has five-star ratings as an Uber passenger and AirBnB guest.
Operations
Matt Trevethan
Sr. Technical Operations Manager
Matt Trevethan is Senior Technical Operations Manager for 101.9 WDET.
Ryan Carlson
Senior Systems Administrator
Ryan Carlson is Senior Systems Administrator for 101.9 WDET. He's a sports nut who's also a techy, and is always trying to figure out how and why the things we use work.
Josh Linden
Membership Assistant
Josh Linden is a Member Services Assistant at 101.9 WDET. He believes in the importance of clear, open communication, which he hopes to extend to anyone calling in to Member Services.
Katie Johnson
Membership Assistant
Katie Johnson is a Member Services Assistant at 101.9 WDET. She loves animals and the outdoors.
Tony Brown
Digital Distribution Manager
Tony Brown is Digital Distribution Manager for 101.9 WDET. Brown has a passion for house music, fitness and a love for animals and nature.
Nikki Roach
Multimedia Designer
Nikki Roach is the Multimedia Designer for 101.9 WDET. Her favorite colors are electric blue and sky blue.
Lisa Durden
Event Coordinator
Lisa Durden is the Event Coordinator for 101.9 WDET. She is born and raised from California but her passion for sports and love for food led her to Detroit.
Interns
Tim Jagielo
News Intern
Tim Jagielo is a news intern for 101.9 WDET; he writes short news spots and provides visuals for feature stories. He previously worked at the Tri-County Times, The Flint Journal and has more than 10 years of community newspaper experience. He’s a videographer and documentary filmmaker with travels to Libya, Tunisia, rural Appalachia and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Jenna Prestininzi
News Intern
Jenna Prestininzi is a News intern for 101.9 WDET. Prestininzi is a sophomore print/online journalism major with an Italian minor at Wayne State University, where she currently serves as Managing Editor of The South End. She enjoys reading, cooking and travel.
Allison Pirog
News Intern
Allison Pirog is a news intern for 101.9 WDET. Pirog is studying journalism at Boston University. She is the staff development chair and former city news editor of The Daily Free Press, BU’s independent student newspaper. Banana bread is her baking specialty.
Nate Salazar
News Intern
Nate Salazar is a News Intern for 101.9 WDET. Salazar is a Junior Broadcast Journalism major with a theatre minor at Wayne State University. He hopes to be able to use his performance experience to aid his reporting. He enjoys creating films, traveling, and playing piano.
Jessica Taylor
News Intern
Jessica Taylor is a News Intern for 101.9 WDET. Taylor also serves as the Chief Engagement Officer for the Journalism Institute for Media Diversity. Taylor is the Vice President for the Black Student Union Wayne State University Chapter, a resident advisor for Towers Residential Suites, and the Social Media and Marketing Officer for Temple Campus Ministries, a WSU bible study group.
Clare Brennan
Associate Producer, Detroit Today
Clare Brennan works with the production team on “Detroit Today with Stephen Henderson” and helped produce Season Three of the podcast series “Created Equal.”
Allise Hurd
Detroit Today Intern
Allise Hurd is an intern for Detroit Today with Stephen Henderson on 101.9 WDET. Hurd is a senior and broadcast journalism major at Wayne State University. Her interest in WDET came as a listener. Enjoying show such as All Things Considered and Weekend Edition, along with a Zoom presentation Jerome Vaughn did for a broadcasting class she was enrolled in at the time were all deciding factors in making WDET her choice as an internship. She enjoys cooking and watching documentaries. Her favorite dish to make is homemade macaroni and cheese.
Nora Rhein
Detroit Today Intern
Nora Rhein is an intern with Detroit Today with Stephen Henderson for 101.9 WDET. Rhein is a second-year Public Relations Major with a Theatre Management minor at Wayne State University. She is a contributing writer for The South End, a Detroit Symphony Orchestra Applebaum Fellow, and Low Brass Section leader of the WSU marching band.
More About WDET