WSHU Public Radio announces departure of General Manager A. Rima Dael; Janice Portentoso and Terry Sheridan named New Interim Leadership
WSHU Public Radio today announced A. Rima Dael has moved on from the position of General Manager to another opportunity. Sacred Heart University, which owns the award-winning public radio station, has appointed Senior Director of Strategy & Communications Janice Portentoso and Senior Director of News and Education Terry Sheridan as co-interim Station Managers. They will share the responsibilities of day-to-day leadership and will receive support from Public Media Executive Scott Finn until the position is permanently filled following a candidate search later this year.
“We thank Rima for her extraordinary leadership,” said Sacred Heart University President John J. Petillo. “During her tenure, WSHU earned its first Peabody Award nomination as well as many other prestigious awards. Janice and Terry are longtime WSHU staffers who worked very closely with Rima. I am confident in their ability to carry on the station’s strategic mission.”
Sheridan and Portentoso began their interim roles effective immediately.
Portentoso is a management and communications professional with over 30 years of experience helping nonprofits and corporations communicate their brand stories. Portentoso has spearheaded WSHU media campaigns for several of its award-winning programs and podcasts since joining the station in 1999, including Still Newtown and both seasons of Higher Ground. She was instrumental in the relaunch of the WSHU Join the Conversation discussion series in 2023, serving as the Master of Ceremony for the author event in September 2023. Before moving to Connecticut, she managed the marketing communications efforts for an array of entrepreneurial, high-tech companies in Massachusetts.
“I am excited for the opportunity to help guide WSHU through this transitional phase,” Portentoso said. “I want to thank Rima for her steadfast leadership and for creating an organizational culture that celebrates innovation, collaboration and inclusion. I look forward to fulfilling our mission to serve our community with thoughtful programming that informs, surprises and delights – both in traditional broadcast and digital forms.”
Sheridan, a Peabody-nominated, award-winning journalist, first joined the station in 2016 and has served as senior director of news and education since 2018. He developed an award-winning internship program with the Stony Brook University School of Communications and Journalism, where he is a lecturer and adjunct professor. He also mentors graduate fellows from the Sacred Heart University Graduate School of Communication, Media, & the Arts.
“Rima’s leadership these last several years has helped to propel WSHU as a station and a brand,” Sheridan said. “As I step into this role along with Janice, our goal will be to continue the foundation that has been laid before us and strive to catapult our station to greater achievements. We will guide the ship with grace and earnestness as we focus on the success for all involved with WSHU over these upcoming months.”
Share your Fairfield experiences with us by using #findingconnecticut on Instagram
Click here for the latest news in Fairfield
Click here for the upcoming events in Fairfield
Click here for the latest news in Fairfield County
Click here for the upcoming events in Fairfield County
••••• Message center •••••••
Connecticut business owners:
Connecticut with us! Are you a local business owner in Connecticut looking to boost your visibility and reach more customers? Look no further! Our platform provides a unique opportunity to showcase your business to an engaged audience of people who love and live in Connecticut. By partnering with us, you can reach potential customers who are actively seeking things to do, places to dine, and local merchants and service providers to support. Don’t miss out on this chance to grow your business and connect with the local community!
Connecticut with us!
Get our news straight into your inbox daily
Stay connected with us on social media
Facebook • Instagram • Threads • Tiktok
Join our Reddit community
Share your Connecticut experiences with us by using #findingconnecticut on Instagram
Click here to return to Finding Connecticut’s home page
Looking for the latest news by region, topic and events
Latest news by region
Fairfield County • Hartford County • Litchfield County • Middlesex County • New Haven County • New London County• Tolland County • Windham County
Latest sports news by team
Hartford Wolf Pack • Hartford Yard Goats • Connecticut Sun • Norwich Sea Unicorns •
2024 schedules
Hartford Wolf Pack • Hartford Yard Goats • Connecticut Sun • Norwich Sea Unicorns
Events my region
Fairfield County • Hartford County • Litchfield County • New Haven County • New London County • Middlesex County •Tolland County • Windham County
Events by interest
Art • Sports • Family Friendly • History • Concerts • Farmers’ Markets
Events by the month
January 2024 • February 2024 • March 2024 • April 2024 • May 2024 • June 2024 • July 2024 • August 2024 • September 2024 • October 2024 • November 2024 • December 2024
Events by venue
College Street Music Hall • Space Ballroom • Westville Music Bowl • Wall Street Theater • Hartford Stage • The Bushnell • Goodspeed Opera House • Mohegan Sun