The HBCU Radio Preservation Project, a multi-year effort to foster an ethos of preservation at HBCU radio stations, is accepting applications for the position of 2027 HBCU Radio Preservation Project Fellow. The HBCU Radio Preservation Project is dedicated to honoring and preserving the vibrant history and cultural resource that is HBCU radio.
About the Fellowship:
The HBCU Radio Preservation Project provides learning opportunities and mentorship for early-career professionals from diverse backgrounds and under-represented populations. We believe that varied representation of experiences, perspectives, and cultures is critical to our project and related interdisciplinary professions.
The fellowship is a one-year position (January – December) for an early-career professional to work alongside the HBCU RPP team conducting oral history interviews and assisting with the preservation of materials at the radio stations located on HBCU campuses. The Fellow will gain real-world, practical skills in audio and memory preservation by participating in a broad range of activities supporting collaboration between radio stations and institutional archives on HBCU campuses, with a focus on applied learning with tangible outcomes for project partners. The Fellow will also contribute to public history programming, including participation at conferences
throughout the year, including our annual HBCU Radio Preservation Symposium. The fellow will be an active and engaged member of a highly collaborative team and will report directly to the Assistant Director for Public History and Programming.
Responsibilities:
Depending on project priorities, the fellow will be introduced to and gain hands-on experience
to the following:
● physical and digital audio collection assessment,
● inventorying,
● oral history recording,
● interview processing, and
● other public history and preservation activities, including participation in public presentations, workshops, and conferences.
Periodically, the fellow will also be asked to reflect on their work experiences in public writing
for the HBCU RPP newsletter, website, and social media platforms.
Qualifications/Requirements:
● Familiarity with heritage-based storytelling and/or public history/archival methodologies
● They must be a recent graduate of a related Masters-level graduate program in a related discipline and not currently enrolled in a full-time degree program.
● Strong written and oral communication skills, including public speaking and proficiency in Google Workspace and Microsoft Office applications as well as familiarity with working collaboratively in virtual workspaces.
● Demonstrated ability to work independently; ability to take direction; willingness to ask questions and contribute to a range of creative processes.
● Demonstrated ability to thrive in highly collaborative team environments.
● Candidates must have the ability to travel as needed during the full duration of the fellowship, including site and preservation visits that may extend beyond a week.
● HBCU graduates will receive special consideration.
● Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States.
Time Commitment and Compensation:
This is a one-year, full-time, grant-funded fellowship. It is expected that the fellow will work 40
hours per week. Compensation is $50,000 annually and offers health benefits. This is a primarily
remote position. Position commences January 1 and runs through December 31, 2027.
Computer/software and professional development and travel funds will be provided, as will
membership in organizations such as the Association for the Study of African American Life and
History, Association of African American Museums, Oral History Association, National Council on
Public History, Society of American Archivists, and other appropriate organizations.
About the Project:
The HBCU Radio Preservation Project works with radio stations and institutional archives at Historically Black College and Universities (HBCUs) to honor and preserve the rich history and cultural legacy of the stations while fostering an ethos of preservation. Nearly one-third of the 104 HBCUs have radio stations, and many have been on the air for more than 50 years. Much of the material these stations have created—primary audio sources that document the rich history and diversity of the Black experience—is at risk of being lost because, among other reasons, obsolete formats are deteriorating. Even current digital material is at risk without proper preservation. The HBCU RPP serves at least 30 HBCU radio stations. Its replicable model is of use to all college radio stations, tribal stations, rural stations, and other public and community stations.
To Apply:
Submit the following to Assistant Director Phyllis Jeffers-Coly at in PDF
format:
- Completed Application Form – Data Sheet
- Cover letter explaining specifically how this position fits the applicant’s career goals
- Current resume
- Three letters of recommendation from individuals knowledgeable about the applicant’s
experience, skills, and suitability for the position. Please provide letters of
recommendation along with your resume and cover letter rather than having them sent
separately by individuals other than yourself.
Application deadline is due on Monday, 30 November 2026 by 11:59 p.m. PDT for a January 2027 start date.
The HBCU Radio Preservation Project and Miami Valley Public Media value people of all races,
colors, national origins, gender identities and expressions, sexual orientations, ages, abilities,
and religions. BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.