ORLANDO, Fla. (September 30, 2026) — Jennifer Cook, executive director and assistant vice president of WUCF TV & FM, has been elected to a three-year term on the PBS Board of Directors, bringing what WUCF has learned serving Central Florida to public media's national leadership.
In more than a decade at WUCF, Cook has helped grow the station's presence across nine Central Florida counties, reaching about 5 million people.
WUCF works alongside schools and libraries, connecting families with free resources, while original programs such as Florida Road Trip tell the stories of communities around the state through the people who know them best. Cook has also helped secure more than $20 million in grants, expanding what WUCF can offer and who it can reach.
Public safety is another part of how WUCF serves Central Florida. Through its longtime partnership with the Florida Public Radio Emergency Network, WUCF provides critical weather and emergency information to listeners and viewers across the region.
And Meet the Helpers extends that commitment to children and families, helping young viewers understand emergencies and know who they can turn to for help. Created by WUCF, the initiative has grown from a local resource into one shared by PBS stations and schools across the country.
"Public media starts with the people and places we serve," Cook said. "At WUCF, we listen to our community, and we learn what people need from us. That might mean helping a parent find a trusted resource for their child or making sure people have information they can rely on when an emergency affects our region. I'm proud to bring what we've learned in Central Florida to the PBS Board and to make sure local communities remain at the center of the conversation."
Cook brings more than 25 years in media to the role. She began her career in local television news and public broadcasting at WKAR Public Media and WMFE early on. She then gained experience in corporate communications with The Walt Disney Company and spent 14 years in leadership positions at Spectrum News 13. Cook joined WUCF in 2014 and was named executive director in March 2023.
Earlier this year, she was named a 2026 Women Who Mean Business honoree by the Orlando Business Journal and one of Orlando Magazine’s 2026 Women of the Year.
Cook is one of two newly elected Professional Directors chosen by leaders of PBS member stations nationwide. The 27-person PBS Board helps guide PBS and its work with more than 330 local stations across the country.
"Our Board of Directors plays a vital role in helping PBS deliver the programming and services American audiences count on from public broadcasting," PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger said. "Each of these leaders understands what the American people need from public media, and I am grateful for the perspectives they bring. Their voices will help guide our system through one of the most consequential periods in our history."
Cook will take what WUCF has learned in Central Florida to the PBS Board — and bring home new ideas for how the station can serve our community even better.
Media Contact:
Christine Dellert Mullon
christine@sondersays.com
407.718.0199
About WUCF: WUCF serves as the region's trusted source for educational programming, arts, culture and local storytelling. As Central Florida's only PBS affiliate and home for jazz, WUCF offers free, accessible content that enriches lives, fosters curiosity and strengthens the community. Guided by the mission "We Change Lives," WUCF is committed to connecting, inspiring and empowering audiences across all platforms. To explore WUCF’s impact and programming, visit WUCF.org.
