Ashton Ridley previously worked at College of Southern Nevada (CSN), where he served five years as manager of multicultural affairs. Before working at CSN, Dr. Ridley spent 15 years with Las Vegas public radio station, KCEP-FM, starting as an intern while in high school. He worked in several areas at the station – everything from radio broadcasting to budget management and interim general manager.

The position brings Dr. Ridley back to UNLV, where he earned his bachelor’s degrees in both communication studies and workforce education. He also obtained a certificate in nonprofit management and master’s in public administration from the UNLV School of Public Policy and the school’s doctorate of public policy program.

As a result of his experience at KCEP, he continues to pay it forward and give back in helping students gain professional experience while in college. Dr. Ridley embraces the opportunity to serve the community and mentor future communication professionals.

Dr. Ridley takes the reins of an FM station that has more than doubled its audience and audience share since 2018. According to August Nielsen ratings, KUNV-FM ranks among the top 10 stations in the Las Vegas market for those 45+ with an audience of 123,300 in August. In the past year, the audience has grown from 71,000 to more than 100,000, with market share ranging from 1.0-2.0. The station’s innovative music format, “Jazz & More,” combines familiar hits with upbeat contemporary Jazz. Weekend programming includes Pamela’s Place, Reggae Happenings, the Little Grass Shack, and the Lion’s Den Radio Show.

In addition to his role with KUNV, Dr. Ridley will collaborate with the school’s other media operations, including UNLV-TV and the Rebel Media Group social media agency. As a faculty member, he also teaches a media management class and help manage the school’s concentration in audio production.