Sleeping on studio floors, pep talks, and re-used satellite dishes: Micheline Boudreau, first president of DPM, discusses DPM’s beginnings

By Delaware Public Media

Published August 17, 2022 at 9:19 AM EDT

It was 10 years ago today on August 17, 2012, that Delaware Public Media signed on the air for the first time.

But bringing Delaware its first and only NPR member station was no easy task. A small group dedicated to the idea made it happen, led in large part by DPM’s first president, Micheline Boudreau.

This week, Boudreau joins the show to reminisce about getting DPM up and running and what it took to make that dream a reality.

First president of DPM Micheline Boudreau discusses the station's beginnings

Here are some of the memorable milestones that have marked our evolution into today’s DPM:

February 2012 - UD and DSU sign three-party sponsorship agreement
WDDE 91.1FM debuts – August 17, 2012
The Green debuts and won a Delaware Press Association for best Talk Show in its first year – November 1, 2013
WMPH starts simulcasting parts of WDDE broadcast day, creating “Delaware Public Media” – January 2014
DPM staff begins working with students at Mount Pleasant HS, launching its educational mission through Generation Voice – Fall 2014
DPM staff begins working with students at Thomas McKean HS, expanding Generation Voice – Fall 2018
Tom Byrne receives the Communicator of Achievement Award from the Delaware Press Association. Spring 2019
COVID-19’s impact on Delaware dominates our news coverage – March 2020
Hometown Heroes Show debuts – June 28, 2020
DPM debuts current logo – June 2020
FCC reissues broadcasting license for another 10 years! - July 2022