Rita Pardue, also known as “Rita-on-the-Road,” is the KUNV-FM community engagement producer in the Hank Greenspun School of Journalism and Media Studies. She earned a B.A. in radio, TV, and broadcasting and a master’s degree in child development focusing on children’s radio programming from California State University-Los Angeles. 

Pardue is a seasoned broadcast professional with over 40 years of experience in hosting, interviewing, voice-over production, teaching, fundraising, and leadership. Her first radio station was KUNV in 1981 serving as a volunteer host, Jazz DJ and newscaster. The next career step in 1983 took her to NBC in Burbank, California working in Broadcast Standards. Her passion for quality children’s programming led her to TMS Entertainment working on the CBS Saturday morning animated series, “Galaxy High.” 

While completing her master’s degree program, Pardue created an interactive children’s radio program, “The Nothing-To-Do Funshop” selling 26 episodes to CBS affiliate, KWNK in Los Angeles. The show found a new radio home at KCSN. During this time, Pardue developed an after school program teaching elementary school students writing and public speaking skills. Their creative reports would be recorded and aired on the weekly N-T-D Funshop on KCSN. 

Her expertise working with children launched her in two new roles including working in the media space at the Los Angeles Children’s Museum and accepting a position with national Children's Broadcasting Corporation/Radio Aahs. She was associated with the LA Children’s Museum for 25 years and Radio Aahs grew to 65 affiliates in the United States. Pardue’s duties included announcing, production, coaching kid DJs on the weekly “Disneyland Live Show,” “Universal Studios Show,” and finally live from The Museum of TV and Radio.

Rita Pardue was recruited to be the midday LA host at KKLA, Salem Broadcasting for the next 5 years. Her role as host and fundraiser took her to China, Indonesia, Japan, North Korea, and Jamaica. Her advocacy for children garnered her awards from World Vision connecting over 2,000 children with sponsors. She also received the YWCA/LA Times Incredible Women Making History Award along with a Golden Oak Award from PTSA. 

In 2004, Pardue launched her own small business, Angel Wings Productions, a one-stop shop for audio production. Her client list includes Disney, Time Warner, Cox, Adelphia, and Fisher-Price to mention a few.

From 2007-21, Pardue was the voice of Southern California Public Radio at NPR affiliate KPCC, serving as production manager. In her spare time, she was an adjunct professor at California State University-Fullerton where she taught in the broadcasting department. For 10 years, she taught audio production classes through Los Angeles Valley Community College at the state-of-the-art KPCC studios.

During the pandemic, Pardue relocated to Las Vegas. She has come full circle returning to her radio roots at her original station, KUNV.