22-05-2025
Arkansas PBS names Sajni Kumpuris interim executive director
ARKANSAS (KNWA/KFTA) — The Arkansas Educational Television Commission has named Sajni Kumpuris as the interim executive director of Arkansas PBS, effective Monday, May 26.
Kumpuris currently serves as the organization's education director and production director. She will assume the interim leadership role following the departure of Courtney Pledger, who has held the position of executive director and CEO since 2017.
'I am honored to step into the role of interim director at Arkansas PBS,' Kumpuris said in an Arkansas PBS Facebook post. 'This organization has long been a vital resource for our communities, and I'm committed to continuing our mission of providing high-quality educational content and programming that reflects the values and needs of all Arkansans. I look forward to working with our incredible team as we build on our legacy of service and innovation.'
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She has produced educational programs including 'Rise and Shine,' 'Arkansas AMI,' and 'Mystery League,' and the documentary '7 Days – The Opioid Crisis.' She has received three regional Emmy Awards and multiple Public Media Awards under Arkansas PBS, according to Talk Business & Politics.
Kumpuris serves on the PBS KIDS Leadership Council and the school board of The Excel Center. She holds a master's degree in applied communication and has experience in broadcast production and educational media.
Kumpuris also leads ArkansasIDEAS, an online professional development platform serving over 96,000 educators in Arkansas with more than 600 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
