Word Radio Day Spotlight
Station celebrates a half-century of student training, cultural influence, and national recognition.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Feb. 13, 2026) — Florida A&M University’s campus radio station, WANM-FM 90.5, is celebrating 50 years of entertaining, empowering, and energizing students and communities across the nation.
Since its first broadcast on Jan. 23, 1976, as a 10-watt radio station operating under the original call letters WAMF-FM 90.5, the station has served as a hands-on training ground for aspiring media professionals. By 2000, the station adopted the call letters WANM-FM, honoring the university’s name and its presence in Tallahassee.
As a media property of the FAMU School of Journalism & Graphic Communication (FAMU SJGC), WANM operates with a threefold mission: to provide experiential learning opportunities for students pursuing careers in journalism and media; to serve as a trusted source of news, information and entertainment for the university and surrounding community; and to showcase the talents and achievements of students and faculty.
Photographer Deborah Thomas captured these images of WANM in the early 1980s, which were preserved by Florida Memory. Left: Joe Bullard, in his early days as a DJ at WANM, sports broadcasters call a game, and a look behind the scenes at the technology used for broadcasting back then.
“For half a century, WANM has stood as a beacon of culture, creativity and Rattler excellence,” said SJGC Dean Mira Lowe. “We celebrate 50 years of high-quality programming and the countless media leaders who launched their journeys here. The station’s impact is unmistakable, and its next chapter will strike with even greater power, purpose and pride.”
Today, WANM-FM broadcasts at 1,600 watts, offering listeners 24-hour, seven-day-a-week access, along with programming delivered through streaming and podcast platforms. Once known as the Tallahassee area’s last standing outlet for “free-form and progressive jazz,” according to Tallahassee Magazine, WANM has evolved as the media landscape has shifted.
In 1998, the station adopted “The Flava Station” branding as its format expanded to include an eclectic mix of R&B/soul, hip-hop, reggae, and jazz. News coverage, sportscasts, and talk programming have also helped the station remain relevant and popular with listeners.
WANM’s diverse programming and the talent of its more than 50 student staff members and volunteers from across the campus have earned national recognition. The station has been ranked “Best College/University Station” in the nation by the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS), making it the only historically Black college or university station to receive the honor. IBS has also recognized WANM for excellence in on-air talent, spot news reporting, sports programming, and audience engagement.
Station director and FAMU SJGC alumnus Terrence Ward (broadcast journalism, ’08) said the milestone reflects the station’s resilience and ongoing leadership in college radio.
“There are a lot of college stations, particularly at HBCUs, that are no longer in operation,” Ward said. “The fact we are still here shows we’ve stood the test of time and continue to serve as a beacon of entertainment and information in the community.”
Looking ahead, Ward is focused on leading the station into a new era of innovative storytelling, deeper community engagement, and expanded platform reach.
Over its decades of live broadcasts, WANM has hosted numerous nationally recognized guests, ranging from Stevie Wonder, a legendary singer, producer, and philanthropist, to Roy Wood Jr., an Emmy-nominated comedian, producer, actor, author, host, and political commentator.
Ward (left) welcomes Wood back to WANM during a visit to campus, where he spent time with students reflecting on his journey as a journalism student.
Wood’s previous visits to the radio station have held special meaning, as a FAMU SJGC alumnus (broadcast journalism, ’01) and former contributor at the station. He referred to his time on campus as a “training camp” in an interview with The Miami Herald, recalling how he tested early jokes and sketches live on WANM. The on-air tests and other experiences in the journalism program helped build the confidence evident in his past and present work on popular shows such as Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” and CNN’s “Have I Got News for You.”
Roy Wood is featured in the video above discussing the impact of the media training he received at FAMU SJGC.
“My journalism degree is 100 percent a part of my daily repertoire and is definitely an asset,” Wood said during a recent sit-down in SJGC’s studios.
Box office–record-breaking filmmaker, Emmy-nominated television producer, and best-selling author Will Packer can also attribute WANM as a vital step in his career success. Although not a journalism major, Packer was welcomed as a DJ and gained on-air, production, and entertainment experience as an engineering student, which served as a stepping stone to his journey in Hollywood.
Packer visits campus often and is now the namesake of an on-campus amphitheater that promotes arts and entertainment. In the video below, he reflects on how WANM impacted his preparation for the industry.
“So much of my success is shaped by the foundation I got here at FAMU,” Packer said during a recent campus visit.
FAMU SJGC alumna Tiffany Greene, now a celebrated ESPN commentator and the first African American woman to serve as a college football play-by-play announcer on a major network, also traces her professional roots to WANM. As a student, Greene (broadcast journalism, ’03) broke barriers as the station’s first female sports director.
Greene has returned to WANM to inspire the next generation with words of wisdom and to provide guest sports commentary alongside the students. In the video below, she shares a testimonial about her experience as a product of SJGC.
“FAMU SJGC was absolutely wonderful in my development,” Greene said in an interview at the radio station during an earlier return to campus. “All the skills I learned have played a part in my daily reporting and anchoring.”
Community members interested in supporting WANM’s continued impact are invited to donate at bit.ly/SJGCRadio.
About WANM-FM 90.5 “The Flava Station”
WANM-FM 90.5 is housed in Florida A&M University’s School of Journalism & Graphic Communication. The student-run station has a 16-mile local broadcast range, a national streaming audience, and a storied history as one of the nation’s top college radio stations. Its dynamic programming and legacy of talent development are reflected in honors such as the Hearst Awards in Broadcast Journalism, the Florida Associated Press College Awards, the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System Media Awards, and recognition from the Society of Professional Journalists.
WANM In Action Gallery
Media Contacts
Kanya Stewart
kanya.stewart@famu.edu
Christian Whitaker
christian1.whitaker@famu.edu
Please contact for specific photo attribution.
