Episode 11 │ Jim Leightenheimer

Cedarville Stories

Resound-ing Success

For Jim Leightenheimer, Associate Professor of Communication, you might say the decision to return to his alma mater was a Resound-ing success. The 1980 Cedarville University graduate worked for several years as a Dayton, Ohio radio broadcaster, but returned to Cedarville when his former professor, Wes Baker, asked him to lead the communications department expansion into radio.

Mr. L., as he is fondly called by students and alumni, came back to Cedarville not only to teach but to create a student-run radio network. Starting in 1990, WSRN began broadcasting to students in the residence halls. Today, WSRN is known as Resound Radio and is reaching an international audience online. Resound Radio reflects Leightenheimer’s approach to expose his students to the latest technology and ways of communicating so they’re ready to enter the world of broadcasting prepared for success.

…………….

Mr. L. has had a profound influence on the careers of many radio and television broadcast professionals, such as ABC news correspondent Paula Faris or WAY-FM afternoon show host Joy McBride.

Resound Radio began as a research project in Leightenheimer’s senior year at Cedarville. Resound celebrates its 30th birthday this year.