Photo provided by Dawn Benfer
By Lexy Gierszal, Staff Writer
“Once radio is in your blood, it’s always there.” Dawn Benfer started in radio when she was just eight-years-old. It all started when a radio salesperson walked into her family’s automotive repair business in Williamsport, Pa.
“He thought it would be a great idea for me to be a part of the commercial,” Benfer said. “That is how it all started, I was eight when I sat behind a microphone at a radio station and my first line in the commercial was, ‘We give a hoot about you.’”
From there Benfer grew up making commercials. She started with a 60-second commercial with a DJ and then a 30-second commercial by herself and the rest was history
“I always thought I want to be here, I want to be that DJ that talks about the new music, shares the information on events going on in our communities,” Benfer said, “I want to be the one that hopefully puts a smile on someone’s face that may be having a bad day by a joke I tell, a song I play. I want to be that friendly voice on the other end.”
Benfer started working part-time at her college’s radio station. She was hired for her first full-time position at a radio station in Selinsgrove, Pa. before she graduated from college. Her job was to write and record the news for the country radio stations.
“During the interview process I told the owner of the station, I am not looking for a job, I am looking for a career and I want to learn everything that makes the radio industry tick,” Benfer said. “At that station, I did exactly what I told the owner I wanted to do, I wanted to learn everything.”
From news, sales, promotions, to being an on-air co-host and program director, Benfer did it all. After 18 years, she received an internal promotion that would take her to Cape Girardeau, Mo. to manage the on-air staff for eight radio stations with over 25 staff members.
“It was a challenge being in a new state and not knowing anyone,” Benfer said. “But a good challenge, it pushed me out of my comfort zone and forced me to meet new people and learn new things.”
After her time in Missouri, Benfer and her family moved to Harrisonburg, Va. where she was an on-air morning drive co-host and social media coordinator until she decided to come home.
“Central Pennsylvania is home and here I am at the best radio station in the area,” Benfer said. “It was time to come home, we had two grandchildren at home.”
With the area being home for Benfer she was familiar with Susquehanna and the communications program. While working in Selinsgrove previously she encountered many interns from Susquehanna at her station.
“As I said before, once radio is in your blood it is always there, so when I saw the opportunity to be a part of the most powerful student run radio station in PA, I knew this is where I wanted to be,” Benfer said.
Benfer is now the general manager of WQSU, working all day and night with many Susquehanna students, which happens to be her favorite part of the job.
“They are an inspiration and their passion for radio, for learning, for giving back to the community that we live and work in is contagious,” Benfer said. “I am so honored to be a part of this awesome team.”
Benfer’s students seem to feel the same way about working with her.
“She sees my absolute potential and stretches me to that level she knows I can get to,” Shay Eaton, WQSU’s co-promotions director said. “I really appreciate her for helping me learn how radio, promotions and broadcasting works as a non-communications major.”
“Dawn puts so much passion not only into the radio station, but her student’s education as well,” senior Sam Brumagin, program director for WQSU, said. “She wants us to succeed and recognizes our personal achievements, which furthers our ability to succeed as a station.”
Benfer takes education very seriously, not only for her students, but for herself as well. Benfer always tells her students to learn one new thing a day and she is following her own advice. She has recently gone back to school to get her master’s degree in strategic communications.
“Once I complete my degree, I look forward to inspiring my students and helping them become skilled, knowledgeable and motivated to pursue their dreams in the communications world,” Benfer said. “The possibilities are endless, and I plan to help them navigate through the industry once I finish my master’s degree.”
Benfer has become a shining light on Susquehanna’s campus. Students and coworkers all jump at the chance to speak on her behalf. Benfer plans to continue doing great things for WQSU and pushing her students to be the best they can.
