Stephen Williams

Stephen Williams is the General Manager of WMUK 102.1 FM and Classical WMUK 89.9 FM (102.1-HD2), serving both Kalamazoo and the West Michigan region as a leading source of news, information, and cultural programming.

He joined WMUK-FM in 2016, bringing with him a wealth of experience in public broadcasting leadership and journalism. Prior to coming to Kalamazoo, Williams served as General Manager of WESM-FM, an NPR member station in Princess Anne, Maryland, where he also previously served as that station's News and Public Affairs Director, earning two awards from the Chesapeake Associated Press Broadcasters Association for his work there.

Prior to his broadcasting career, Williams served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in French-speaking northern Cameroon, where he taught English as a Foreign Language, an experience that deepened his commitment to public service and communication across cultures.

Williams led WMUK-FM through a significant strategic transformation beginning in 2020, the result of years of careful research and planning. That effort produced a renewed mission and vision for the station, a sharpened focus on news and information, and the launch of a second classical music channel — now known as Classical WMUK 89.9 FM. The changes have resulted in increased community listenership and a strengthened financial foundation for the station — one that proved vital when Williams successfully navigated the station through the loss of federal funding in 2025, as well as the challenges of the pandemic years.

A strong believer in the power of public service media, Williams takes particular pride in WMUK-FM's commitment to independent regional journalism, which he considers one of the station's defining strengths. He also values the station's close and collaborative relationship with its license holder, Western Michigan University.

Williams is originally from the Washington, DC area, and has a degree in Communications from the University of New Hampshire. He currently serves on the board of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, and is the volunteer president of the regional industry group, Public Radio in Mid-America.

Outside of work, Williams enjoys movies, running, video games, and music, and has been known to try his hand at comedy improv. He is an avid reader with a love of historical fiction, as well as a devoted fan of Star Trek and science fiction more broadly.

Email: stephen.a.williams (at) wmich.edu
Phone: 269.387.5719