Audio Production | Undergraduate | The Cathy Hughes School of Communications

HU audio production students smiling on set with microphones

The Howard University Audio production program trains students to study the science of sound and digital audio, covering voice and environmental recording, digital editing, mixing, mastering, and the effects of sound and music on productions.

Our program encourages students to explore the rich variety of career opportunities available to sound and audio production professionals.

Our students have produced award-winning projects, including commercials and public service announcements for Howard University's WHUR Radio Network (including student-run stations WHBC and Glasshouse Radio Project), along with short and long-form audio documentaries, podcasts, radio programs and soundtracks for visual media such as film, television and webcasts.

BECOME AN AUDIO PRODUCTION STUDENT AT HOWARD!

Chair: Ingrid Sturgis, M.A.,

Audio Production Sequence Coordinator: Heidi Gerber-Salins, M.A., assistant professor

Sonja Williams, M.A. professor & advisor, Paul Robeson Student Awards

Vicci Saunders, M.F.A., associate professor & founder, Glasshouse Radio Project

Carolyn Malachi, M.A. assistant professor

Click here for Faculty Profiles

News

Student Work

HU audio production student records interview with President Vincent

In January 2024, our Audio Production students interviewed HU President Ben Vinson at the 100th Anniversary celebration of the Howard's student newspaper, The Hilltop. The nation’s oldest Black collegiate newspaper celebrated with the theme: Honoring Our Past. Celebrating Our Future. This was a tribute to the steadfast dedication of the countless individuals who have contributed to the evolution and success of The Hilltop during the past century, including multiple Pulitzer Prize and Emmy award-winning journalists. To honor such a momentous occasion, The Hilltop hosted a celebratory gala bringing together Hilltop alumni, current staffers, faculty and esteemed members of the journalism community to celebrate the past, present and future of The Hilltop.

Audio Production Student Promoted to Programs Contractor at National Gallery of Art

Munyang Tengen, Class of 2024 has been promoted to Programs Contractor at the National Gallery of Art. Previously, she served as a museum studies intern and an assistant in Photograph Conservation at the museum. In addition to her museum roles, Tengen contributed as a composer on the feature film One Town at a Time, which was screened at the Oscar-qualifying Reel Sisters Film Festival and Lecture Series in New York.

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Audio Production Student joins SiriusXM

Elijah Kirksey, Class of 2024, recently joined SiriusXM as an Associate Producer for Music Programming. He previously worked as a sound composer on the feature-length film KULTUR, which premiered at the Black Harvest Film Festival in Chicago.

Audio Production Student joins Virgin Music Group as Commercial Marketing Manager

Amber Grant, Class of 2021, is currently the Commercial Marketing Manager at Virgin Music Group. Previously, she worked as a Channel Marketing Specialist at SiriusXM/Pandora in Washington, DC.

Audio Production Student Hired as Sound Engineer at The World Stage Theater

Isaiah Sims, Class of 2021, is currently a sound engineer and educator at The World Stage Theater. Previously, he worked as a post-production editor for the Snap Judgment radio show and podcast with WNYC.

Program Highlights

Founded in 2003 by Howard University Professor Vicci Saunders, Glasshouse Radio Project is a student-run internet talk radio station within the Howard University Radio Network. A platform for the young, thoughtful, and passionate, Glasshouse Radio Project serves as a training ground for students eager to learn the creative and production sides of podcasting and webcasting. This weekly program, featuring students from Howard University’s School of Communications, has served the university community for over a decade and offers the global community perspectives and insights on issues relevant to young people aged 16-30, particularly from an African-American viewpoint. “Understanding that we all live in glass houses, Glasshouse radio seeks to uncover the truth without fear. We throw stones.” – Vicci Saunders

WHBC 830HD is Howard University’s student-operated radio station, located within the School of Communications. With over 40 years on air, WHBC has become a leader in urban and contemporary music. Founded in 1974 by a talented student from the Department of Radio, Television, and Film, WHBC has since evolved into a cutting-edge station with an online presence at WHBC.com. Operating 24/7, WHBC broadcasts on Channel 51 of the University’s residential network, receiving mentorship from WHUR 96.3.

As one of the most advanced stations within the Howard legacy, WHBC has served as a vital training ground for future industry professionals. The station has been honored with numerous awards from the Broadcast Education Association (BEA) and the Black College Radio Competition, and it benefits from guidance provided by the Time Warner Artist-in-Residence.

is a professionally operated, commercial radio station licensed to Howard University, recognized as one of the top stations in the Washington, D.C., market. As one of the few university-owned commercial radio stations in the U.S., WHUR has been owned by Howard University since its inception. The station boasts a powerful signal that reaches from north of Baltimore, MD, to the outskirts of Richmond, VA, providing a unique platform where School of Communications student interns gain experience as program managers, newscasters, and announcers.

Under the direction of Professor Vicci Saunders, WHUR has been broadcasting since 1971 to nearly half a million listeners across five states and is accessible globally online. As the first radio station in the Washington area to broadcast in HD, WHUR has received numerous accolades, including the prestigious NAB Marconi Award for Best Urban Station of the Year and the NAB Crystal Radio Award for Excellence in Community Service.

Faculty Spotlight

Audio Production Assistant Professor Producing Podcast Series Celebrating the Legacy of Mrs. Henrietta Lacks

Heidi Gerber-Salins, M.A. is currently producing a podcast series in collaboration with the family of Mrs. Henrietta Lacks to honor her legacy. The series documents the history and significance of the Turner Station community in Baltimore, MD, where Henrietta Lacks lived, and is supported by the nonprofit Henrietta Lacks Legacy Group. Episodes will feature testimonials on the Key Bridge collapse and its aftermath, as well as residents’ reflections on life in the community.

Additionally, Gerber-Salins has co-produced and recorded the cast album for She Persisted, a musical adaptation of Chelsea Clinton’s book, which premiered on October 4th at Adventure Theatre in Glen Echo, MD. The album will soon be available on Spotify.

She also recently produced and narrated a video marking the 30th anniversary of the American Society of Botanical Artists (ASBA), which will be showcased at the organization’s annual conference on October 17th in Pittsburgh, PA.

Audio Production Assistant Professor Serves as Sound Editor and Composer for KULTUR

Carolyn Malachi, M.A. served as the Sound Editor and Composer for the film KULTUR, which was selected for screenings at both the Oscar-qualifying Reel Sisters Film Festival and Lecture Series in New York and the Black Harvest Film Festival in Chicago.

Prof. Malachi also contributed as Sound Editor and Composer for ONE TOWN AT A TIME, a film accepted at the Hollywood South Urban Film Festival and the Reel Sisters Film Festival and Lecture Series. Associate Professor Tina Morton and Professor Shannon were also collaborators on this project

Audio Production Professor Produces Podcast Series Sponsored by Biographers International Organization

Sonja Williams, M.A., an experienced educator and an award-winning writer and producer, known for her work on features and documentaries for National Public Radio (NPR), Public Radio International (PRI), the Smithsonian Institution, and various radio stations across the U.S. Professor Williams has also worked internationally as a journalist and media trainer in Africa, the Caribbean, and the United States.

She currently co-produces and edits BIO, a podcast series sponsored by the Biographers International Organization.

Audio Production Professor is featured on NABEF Media Sales Institute

Vicci Saunders, M.F.A. has held multiple influential roles, including Director of WHUR-World, HUR Voice, and Sirius XM 141. Reflecting on the early influences in her career, she shared, “Storytelling. I love books, music, theater, radio, television, and film. Those methods of expression were electrifying and amazing to me.” Associate Professor Saunders now channels that enthusiasm into her teaching at Howard University, where she has mentored numerous students, guiding them through their academic journeys and beyond.

Watch NABEF Media Sales Institute feature

The best thing I got out of my Howard experience is a great jumpstart to my career in radio. If it weren't for opportunities like that, and being able to network with friends from all over the world, I don't know if I would be where I am today. - Angela "Angie Ange" Hailstorks

Our Notable Alumni

is the Director of Content at WHUT-TV. While studying at Howard University’s School of Communications, she actively participated in the student-run radio station, WHBC 830AM. Graduating magna cum laude, Hailstorks began her professional radio journey in 2006 at WPGC 95.5 in Washington, D.C., quickly progressing from intern to producer and on-air talent. In 2018, she broke new ground as the D.C. area’s first woman to lead a morning show on a hip-hop station, launching the Angie Ange Morning Show. Recognized as one of the top thirty radio personalities nationwide by The Source Magazine, Hailstorks is a respected media figure within the Black community.

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is a distinguished former U.S. radio executive and a notable Howard University alumnus. During his time at Howard in the 1970s, Mayo became the first general manager of WHBC, the university’s current college station. In 1981, Mayo played a pioneering role in launching WRKS in New York, making it the first station to broadcast rap music, which led to its tremendous success. This achievement helped him become the first Black general manager of RKO General. In recognition of his impactful career, Mayo received the Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the National Black Programmers’ Coalition in 1995 and the Martin Luther King Legacy Award from the Boys and Girls Club of Chicago in 1996.

For over 15 years, Shawna Renee has been dedicated to producing engaging and insightful radio and new media content. A Howard University graduate with dual degrees in Telecommunications Management and Radio Production, she began her career producing and co-hosting Baltimore’s top-rated morning show. Her journey led her back to Washington, D.C., where she produced for Worldspace Satellite Radio. Shawna has since worked with Radio One, CBS Radio, SiriusXM, and Voice of America. She is especially renowned as the host and executive producer of Cocoa Mode, a program and multimedia platform aimed at amplifying young women of color in talk radio. Launched on XM Satellite Radio in 2007, Cocoa Mode remains a popular weekly program on SiriusXM’s Urban View Channel 110.

is a versatile sound designer, music composer, and audio creative involved in all aspects of sound production. With over 20 years of experience under his Neosonic Productions label, Murdock has composed original music, crafted immersive “soundscapes,” and mixed/mastered episodes for Vice Audio’s podcast series. His expertise extends to producing and remixing recorded music, as well as handling contracted composition work for various projects. Murdock has collaborated with a range of independent and major artists, including Grammy-nominated singer Raheem Devaughn and the iconic Rawkus Records, establishing himself as a prominent figure in the audio production industry.