Iowa Public Radio has named Peter Clowney as its next Chief Executive Officer, effective Sept. 28, 2026.

Clowney joins IPR from Nebraska Public Media, where he has served as Chief Operating Officer since 2023. He has overseen daily operations for the $26 million organization and its more than 170 employees, with responsibility for finance, human resources, engineering, education, research and innovation. He also led the acquisition of Nebraska Public Media’s newest broadcast signal in Omaha earlier this year.

“Peter brings a rare combination of editorial excellence, operational discipline, and genuine passion for public service,” said Libby Jacobs, Chair of the IPR Board of Directors. “We are confident he is the right leader to carry IPR into its next chapter.”

Clowney brings more than three decades of experience in public and commercial media, including senior content, strategy and editorial roles at Pushkin Industries, SiriusXM, Stitcher, Gimlet Media and American Public Media. He has worked on the development and growth of programs including “This American Life,” “Reply All,” “Marketplace” and the Freakonomics Radio Network.

He began his career as a reporter and producer at WHYY and “Fresh Air.”

“Iowa Public Radio has everything I believe public media needs to thrive: dedicated, deeply experienced talent, a genuine commitment to its communities, and a clear vision for connecting Iowans to each other,” Clowney said. “My focus will be on the daily habits and trusted relationships that make public media indispensable in people’s lives.”

Clowney is a two-time George Foster Peabody Award winner, recognized for his work on PRI’s “Studio 360 American Icons: Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick” and WBEZ’s “This American Life.”

Clowney succeeds Myrna Johnson, who is retiring after leading Iowa Public Radio since 2014. During her tenure, Johnson guided IPR through its transition to an independent, community-licensed organization.

Founded in 2004 to consolidate radio operations from three of Iowa’s public universities, IPR became a fully independent, community-licensed nonprofit in June 2022. The statewide network serves all 99 Iowa counties and reaches more than 307,000 people each week across broadcast and digital platforms. IPR operates 27 radio stations from regional offices in Des Moines, Iowa City, Cedar Falls and Ames, offering news, classical music and cultural programming.