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November 20, 2012

Former ULM broadcasting director wins prestigious award named in his honor

Joel Willer, former director of university broadcasting at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, was presented with the first ever College Broadcasters, Inc. award for "Exceptional Dedication and Service to Student Electronic Media," at the National Electronic Media Convention in Atlanta, Ga. in October.

The new award is named after Willer and will be presented to a new recipient each year.

"This award from now forward will be called the 'College Broadcasters, Inc. Joel Willer Award,' and there is no better person to recognize as the first recipient than the person this award is named for: a person who wrote the original CBI by-laws, has been a legal resource for hundreds on the [CBI] listserv, and is a lobbyist in Washington, D.C in support of webcasting and other issues affecting student media, among other activities," said CBI immediate past president Warren Kozireski in announcing the award.

Kozireski continued, "And, as if that wasn't enough, until recently he was also running his own student station operation that has resulted in dozens of students entering the professional broadcasting business as prepared professionals."

Willer retired from ULM at the end of July, after 30 years of employment within the University of Louisiana System.

He joined the faculty of the then-Department of Communication Arts at ULM in 1984 and was named faculty supervisor of student radio station KXUL in 1985.

Willer assumed the title of Director of University Broadcasting in 2008, when he assumed additional responsibilities as the general manager of KEDM Public Radio.

CBI represents students involved in radio, television, webcasting and other related media ventures. CBI ensures a commitment to education and the student pursuit of excellence through active involvement in electronic media.

In 1998, Willer chaired an ad hoc committee that formed CBI, and he wrote many of the foundational documents for the organization.

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