Debra Fraser
Director of Operations & Stations Manager, Houston Public Media
Currently in her 22nd year at Houston Public Media, Debra Fraser serves as the Director of Operations & Stations Manager. She oversees the combined cultural programming and news departments, as well as the station's public information, online initiatives and fundraising through corporate support and individual gifts. As a respected public radio professional, she has brought increased exposure to the city of Houston through associations with NPR, American Public Media, and many other national news and cultural institutions. Working closely with KUHF's senior management team, Ms. Fraser works to serve the Houston community by developing the station's resources with an eye on the issues that face the future of the city and its residents.
Ms. Fraser joined KUHF in 1988 as a news reporter and served as the News Director and Local Host of All Things Considered before stepping into her current position. Throughout her career, she has maintained a commitment to the expansion and enhancement of local programming. Under her leadership, the news staff more than doubled in size and increased the amount of quality, local news coverage. During her career at KUHF she has also spearheaded emergency radio efforts, establishing the station as an emergency alert system provider. Most recently, she worked with the KUHF staff to provide a 24-hour radio resource for Houston residents during Hurricane Ike. In her current role as station manager, Ms. Fraser is responsible for the strategy and implementation of KUHF's major on-air fundraising campaigns, bringing her in contact with a variety of local business leaders and cultural supporters.
As a journalist, Ms. Fraser has covered a wide variety of local, national and international events and produced stories aired nationally on NPR. She currently serves as the President of the Houston Press Club, a local, non-profit organization that raises funds for journalism scholarships and produces a yearly, Texas-based journalism awards program. The Press Club has provided over $300,000 in scholarships to qualified journalism students.
A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, Ms. Fraser holds a B.S. in Radio, Television and Film. Early in her career she served as a reporter and news anchor in Georgetown, Texas, where she worked to put a small community in touch with the issues that affect their everyday life.
Ms. Fraser resides in Houston with her husband, Kevin, and her son, Justin.