Newly armed with a Bachelor's degree in Theatre from the University of Minnesota, Jennifer Roth set out in 1972 to find herself a job. ("A paying job in theatre? Not very likely.") Little did she know, when she landed a job as receptionist at KUOM Public Radio and TV in the Twin Cities, that she'd be taking the first step towards a career in public broadcasting that would span (to date) a quarter of a century.

At KUOM she answered phones and typed memos, and it wasn't long before she made the station her home, hanging out in the evenings to practice news and classical music announcing and to learn how to record and edit tape. Soon she was producing documentaries on such subjects as flamenco guitar, the rivalry between the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, and what makes people laugh. ("It clicked--radio was for me. I loved every minute of it!")

Since those early years, Jen has worked in a number of capacities ("but please, don't ask me to climb the tower!") at a number of public radio stations across the country ("but no, not Missoula, Montana!"), including Arts Producer at KUNI in Cedar Falls, Iowa; Program Director at WVWC in Buckhannon, West Virginia; Operations Manager at WHYY in Philadelphia; and General Manager of WFAE in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Jennifer Roth touched down at the University at Buffalo in 1990 and has been serving as WBFO's General Manager ever since. ("Lucky me, I still love radio and my role in making it.") That role has changed quite a bit since those tape-cutting years several decades ago. Every now and then she still gets on the air ("It's always a privilege to use such a precious medium"), but most of her days are spent behind the scenes, helping to shape the sound and service of WBFO, to secure the resources necessary to support it, and "to coach the station's team of wonderful players—staff, volunteers and interns."