Matt Shafer Powell Will Lead WUOT in October
The University of Tennessee has named a new director for its Knoxville public radio station.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in People
The University of Tennessee will appoint Matt Shafer Powell as the new director of WUOT on October 26, 2026. This appointment follows the resignation of former general manager Jody Hamblett earlier this year.
Why it matters
The leadership change marks a new chapter for the Knoxville station as it seeks to stabilize operations following the departure of its previous long-term executive.
Powell brings over five years of experience as a chief content officer and 15 years of prior tenure at WUOT. His appointment follows the 2026 vacancy left by the resignation of Jody Hamblett.
The players
Matt Shafer Powell
He is a radio executive who will return to Knoxville to lead WUOT after holding program director and chief content officer roles.
University of Tennessee
This is the primary public research university in Tennessee that operates the Knoxville-based radio station WUOT.
Jody Hamblett
She is the former general manager of the radio station who resigned her position earlier this year.
WUOT
This is a public radio station based in Knoxville that serves as an affiliate of NPR and is licensed by the University of Tennessee.
The details
Powell previously directed news content at WUOT from 2002 to 2017 before moving to leadership roles at WFYI in Indianapolis and Michigan Radio. He returns to the Knoxville institution with decades of industry experience.
Timeline
Powell served as WUOT director of news content from 2002 to 2017.
Jody Hamblett resigned as general manager in 2026.
Powell begins as the new WUOT director on October 26, 2026.
Market Landscape
The transition follows the 2026 resignation of Jody Hamblett, which created a period of leadership uncertainty at the station. Hiring a familiar industry veteran positions the university to leverage internal institutional knowledge during a competitive era for public media.
Listeners can anticipate potential shifts in station programming and operational focus following the transition in October. The appointment of an experienced director aims to maintain continuity for the station's audience in the Knoxville area.
The takeaway
The return of a long-time former employee suggests a preference for continuity and deep institutional knowledge at the station. Listeners should look for potential programming adjustments once the new director officially steps into his role.
Further reading
For more on personnel changes in the local media industry, visit People.
