Arkansas PBS executive director leaving position in May
CONWAY, Ark. – The executive director and CEO of Arkansas PBS will be departing next month, officials announced.
Arkansas PBS announced Thursday that Executive Director and CEO Courtney Pledger will leave her position in May. She joined Arkansas PBS in 2017.
'I have had more than eight extraordinary years at Arkansas PBS, building a phenomenal team eager to take on new challenges and collaborating with some of the very best independent creators and community partners in Arkansas,' Pledger said in a statement. 'It has been my great honor to lead Arkansas PBS through a transformative time that points to the limitless potential of our statewide public media network.'
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Arkansas PBS Commission Chair West Doss described Pledger as 'the catalyst of our success.'
'Her leadership has elevated Arkansas PBS to unprecedented heights, with 34 of the network's 47 Mid-America Regional Emmys being awarded during her tenure, a number of Public Media Awards from the National Educational Telecommunications Association and several original programs now broadcast nationwide by PBS,' Doss said. 'She will be greatly missed.'
Before joining the public media network, Pledger worked in international film and television, holding leadership roles with multiple organizations like Illumination Entertainment and IndieProd Company, as well as working as a consultant for U.K.-based Aardman Animations.
According to the release, the Arkansas PBS Commission is set to meet 'as expeditiously as possible' to find a replacement for Pledger.
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You can read more about Pledger's time with Arkansas PBS on MyArkansasPBS.org.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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