Staff Bios

John Mullen
General Manager

For over 30 years, John Mullen has been involved in radio operations, media management, and content development. John handles syndication/partnership deals with four pro sports franchises, multiplatform content development, staff training, revenue initiatives, and more at Radio Hofstra University. He works collaboratively with many stakeholders including students, community volunteers, alumni, faculty, partners, and others. John earned induction into the Hofstra Radio Alumni Association Hall of Fame and the LIU/Post WCWP Radio Alumni Association Hall of Fame.

He is in his 13th year as the executive producer of all NY Islanders Radio Network live game broadcasts (this year airing on ESPN 1050 AM and 98.7 FM NYC, Salem 970 AM, Sirius/XM, WRCN FM, WRHU FM, and NHL.com/NHL Game Center App. John has overseen the production of more than 1,004 (and counting) live NHL game radio broadcasts produced and distributed by current Hofstra students. He has overseen/grown the WRHU produced live game broadcasts for the Long Island Nets since their inception in 2016. The LI Nets are the NBA development league franchise owned by the Brooklyn Nets. In 2021, John created a partnership with the NY Riptide so Hofstra students can produce/distribute live games. He served as executive producer for NY Cosmos NASL live game radio broadcasts during the 2016 season and has coordinated the LI Ducks broadcast since 2009.

John creates unique opportunities for student participants to grow their skills and network. Examples include: partnering with CBS radio/CBS TV for students to work in the media filing center at the 2020 NH Primary, partnering with NYCB Live Nassau Coliseum (during the apex of the COVID pandemic) to have students produce drive-in movie nights, and partnering with TALKERS to bring their national convention to Hofstra three times. He also created the pitches that earned WRHU 4 Marconi Awards from the National Association of Broadcasters.

Before joining Hofstra, John spent four years as operations manager of legendary Emmis Communications radio stations KISS FM/ WRKS FM and CD 101.9/WQCD FM New York City. He was program director of CD 101.9/WQCD FM New York City, Research Director of HOT 97/WQHT FM New York City, and program director of WBLS FM New York City. Additionally, John has programmed online streams for MTV Digital and served as Long Island Bureau Chief for Metro Networks/Shadow Traffic. He worked in program and research management at WNEW AM (the longtime home of NY Giants NFL and NJ Nets live game broadcasts). John also worked briefly at WPLJ FM. He began his radio career at noncommercial educational community radio stations. At WCWP FM LIU/Post, John produced numerous community volunteer talk shows on timely topics and served as program director among other duties. Prior to that, he volunteered at WKWZ FM Syosset, where he did news and hosted a jazz show. John has taught classes at Hofstra University and at Metropolitan College of New York (MCNY).

Doualy Xaykaothao
Professional-In-Residence, News and Current Affairs

Doualy Xaykaothao brings over 20 years of experience working as an audio/radio journalist. She has been based on both coasts, the Midwest, and overseas (North Asia/Southeast Asia). Doualy has been responsible for writing, producing, and delivering national newscasts for NPR. She also reports on breaking news stories for NPR's All Things Considered, Morning Edition, and Weekend Edition.

Doualy first joined NPR in 1999 as a production assistant for Morning Edition, and has since worked as a producer, editor, director and reporter for NPR's award-winning newsmagazines. She's also worked at Minnesota Public Radio and at NPR Member Stations: KERA, KPCC and KCRW.

For nearly a decade, Doualy was also a correspondent based in Seoul and Bangkok, chasing breaking news in North and Southeast Asia for NPR. In Thailand, she covered the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. In Nepal, as a 2006 International Reporting Project Fellow, Doualy reported on the effects of war on children and women. In South Korea, she reported on rising tensions between the two Koreas, including North Korea's attack on the South Korean island of Yeonpyeong. In 2011, Doualy was the first NPR reporter to witness and cover the aftermath of the Tōhoku earthquake and the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear meltdowns.

She is a multiplatform journalist whose work has won Edward R. Murrow and Peabody Awards. Doualy earned her Bachelor of Arts from SUNY Empire, and she has a Master of Arts (Business and Economics concentration) from Columbia University.

For those curious, Doualy means "Shadow-of-the-Moon" in her native Hmong language. She is a member of an indigenous hill tribe from Asia, born in Laos, but raised in France and the United States. 

In the role of Professional-In-Residence, News and Current Affairs, at WRHU, Doualy mentors students in the production of news, current affairs, talk and special content (excluding sports content). She works with WRHU’s management team fostering connections with the local community through student engagement, community volunteer engagement, and coverage of news and issues important to the community.

Pete Silverman
Professional-in-Residence Sports

Pete Silverman is a veteran of both radio and television. He launched his career at WGTB Georgetown University, where he was a varsity soccer player. Pete then moved to Emory University in Atlanta and earned his MA. Next was eight years at CBS Radio in Philadelphia. During that time, Pete also became the TV play-by-play announcer in the NASL, Big 5 basketball, Spectrum Boxing, as well as the Flyers postgame show anchor. He moved on to announce the Flyers and fill in as a practice goalie.  

The highlight of Pete’s career was 22 years as an executive producer and director at Madison Square Garden Network, followed by five years at ESPN NY. He is the winner of six Emmy Awards and an executive producer of the theatrically released film The Cry, La Llarona.

Pete is the winner of two AIR (Achievement in Radio) Awards. His MA thesis has been cited in five scholarly works on segregation and desegregation in Georgia, including the seminal work "We Shall Not Be Moved.” Pete was the producer of two NHL All-Star games, and executive producer of Mets, Yankees, Knicks, Nets, Jets, Rangers, Islanders and Devils broadcasts. He was an announcer for the WBA title fight, Mike Rossman v. Also Traversaro; executive producer of the first WWF "Wrestlemania”; executive-in-charge of production – Bob Dylan 30th Year Anniversary Concert at Madison Square Garden; and correspondent for both CBS Radio Network News and Sports. Pete has hired and coached Walt Frazier, Mike Emrick, Doris Burke, Sam Rosen, John Davidson, Chico Resch, Ian Eagle, Gus Johnson, Rob Parker, Howie Rose, Ryan Ruocco, and many others.

Pete is in his 11th year as professional-in-residence for Sports at WRHU.

Andy Gladding
Chief Engineer

For almost a decade, Andy Gladding has served as the chief engineer at WRHU FM. He is also the current chief engineer at 970 AM and 570 AM Salem Radio New York City. Previously, Andy served in engineering and technical roles at HOT 97 Radio NYC, Westwood One Radio Networks, FOX, WBLS FM NYC, Newsmax, and at many live musical concerts around the country.

Andy is extremely active in the Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE). He created “Tech Thursdays” at WRHU, where students learn from and network with engineering managers from radio and TV outlets in the NYC area and beyond.

Besides his engineering/technical role at WRHU (where he mentors students), Andy is also an exceptional producer of content. Andy regularly interviews numerous musical artists, composers, and other music industry individuals. When he is not interviewing musicians, he is playing keyboards with his band CFR.