“My mom had a free tutoring program in Wellsburg so there were always kids around and seeing her make that positive impact on so many kids, I wanted to do that.”
Growing up in Wellsburg, WV, Daniel Dudley knew that he wanted to make a difference in children’s lives but didn’t necessarily want to follow in his mother’s footsteps to become a teacher. He decided to follow another passion, broadcasting, by enrolling in West Virginia University’s P.I. Reed School of Journalism.
“I chose to come to WVU because it was the University of my state. That’s where I wanted…that’s where I needed to be.”
Daniel quickly became involved in the University’s student radio station, U92 FM, and combined his passion for broadcasting with his love for sports. After graduating from WVU, Daniel went to work in sports radio just up the road in Pittsburgh for a few years before moving across the country to take a job in Los Angeles, CA.
Now, Dudley is able to influence the lives of young listeners all over the country in “the place where music and sports collide” – as an on-air personality at Radio Disney.
“I feel like I am their big brother when they’re calling in and asking about homework...what happened to them that day is the center of their universe so it’s just cool to hear that excitement.”
When he’s not fielding questions about homework and young romance, Dudley is frequently interviewing the biggest names in music and sports. From athletes like Kobe Bryant and Alex Rodriguez to musicians Macklemore and Diplo, listeners can tune in to Radio Disney or the Radio Disney Sports Podcast to listen to Dudley talking to the who’s who in entertainment.
But Daniel hasn’t forgotten his roots in the Mountain State, or the University that helped him find his place in the world of broadcasting.
“I wouldn’t be anywhere without WVU. I knew nobody in broadcasting…West Virginia will always be home.”
