Dave Woodward. Photo taken by Lou Westcott.
Serving as the operations manager/digital platform engineer for 96.1 The Wit, Dave Woodward has helped the campus radio station come a long way with his expertise in the field. In doing this job, Woodward has been able to mentor and help students grow during their time at Bluffton and while participating in the student news.
Woodward has worked with radio at Bluffton since the fall of 2010. His job is to help students explore radio and other audio productions, help with on-air broadcasts and sports announcements, and just be there to encourage and help students in whatever direction they wish to pursue while doing radio.
Woodward recalls the opportunities he’s had in this job and why he chose to partake in it.
“When I went to college, I had a professor who I felt taught the wrong way and was very negative,” said Woodward. “It was an environment of fear. I decided when I was in college, that if I could ever have a chance to do the opposite, I would do it. I got lucky and got the chance.”
Since he has been helping students for the past 11 years, Woodward has left quite the impact on students along the way. One of those former students is Tyler Avila.
Alumus Tyler Avila. Photo by Olivia Westcott.
Alumnus Tyler Avila graduated in 2019 and was the last student at Bluffton to graduate with the major of broadcasting and journalism due to the curriculum change within the department.
Currently, Avila is working as the production manager for a local radio station. He said he owes a lot of where he is right now to the experience he was able to receive at Bluffton with Woodward.
“I think working within The Wit and the radio aspect of things really helped pushed me getting into [sports radio],” said Avila. “Especially working with Dave. Dave was a big part of why and where I am today in the world of radio. His knowledge and how things are done and his guidance as well has really helped shape who I am today, too.”
When interacting with Woodward, Avila brought up his honesty and how Woodward genuinely wants things to go well for students and will support them. On the same token though, he isn’t afraid to tell the hard and honest truth when something isn’t such a good idea.
For Avila’s degree, he had to partake in an internship that connected with the field he wanted to go into. He was able to intern at the station Woodward worked at, New Country 92.1 The Frog in Lima. When Avila began to look for a job, Woodward helped him to get hired at The Frog part-time.
To this day, Avila still contacts Woodward for anything he has questions on, and just for guidance in general.
“Dave is very inspirational and motivating in this career field that I am in,” said Avila. “I always feel like I can rely on him for really anything. If anybody is studying radio or broadcasting in that aspect or is working with Dave, you always have someone there who will help you out no matter what is going on.”
Outside of Bluffton, Woodward works at multiple radio stations, with one being the aforementioned 92.1 The Frog. In working there every day, he ends up learning a lot and takes the knowledge he learned there and brings it to 96.1 The Wit. Woodward has learned a lot over the years he has been in the radio and does what he can to bring what he can to the students and the radio here on campus.
“I do wish that students could see what a cool job I have, cool career I have. It’s like living the dream everyday,” said Woodward. “It is silly fun. I wish more people could see that, because I think it would inspire more people if they knew what a good, fun time I have everyday in my regular job.”
To help improve the radio, Woodward is hopeful for more people to get involved. If any students are interested in participating in radio, they can email Dave Woodward at woodwardd[at]bluffton.edu or reach out to the program director, Kai Smith, at smikwa[at]bluffton.edu.
