#  Where Your Joy and the World's Needs Meet 

 





**Richard Bland, MTS '03**, executive VP and chief development/communications officer at WETA/PBS News Hour, encourages students searching for a vocation to pay attention to where their joy and the needs of the world meet.



 

February 07, 2025

 

 

     ![Rich Bland](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-03/Rich-Bland_0.jpg?itok=-yFTIVOs) 

Richard Bland, MTS '03



 



 

*Executive Vice President, Chief Development and Communications Officer, WETA/PBS News Hour (Washington DC)*

*View* [*more stories*](/community-life/career-services/alumni-career-snapshots "Alumni Career Snapshots") *on HDS alumni and their career paths.*

## **Describe the work you do today:**

I lead all external functions of the second largest PBS station in the nation. This includes raising $140M per year, and overseeing all Communications.

A little background: PBS stations produce all of the content seen on the 330 stations. Therefore, WETA is proud to be the second largest producer in in the nation. We produce or co-produce the NewsHour, all Ken Burns films, Prof. Henry Louis Gates films/series, and many others -- all of which comprises our national productions.

Locally we run five TV stations and WETA Classical, the number one Classical NPR station in the country.

## **How has your HDS degree influenced your career journey?**

My time at HDS was most influenced by Rev. Peter Gomes, Diana Eck, Harvey Cox, David Little, and David Carrasco. My effort to stay in touch and help HDS grads is a very small part of thanking them!

## **What career advice would you offer to current HDS students?**

Use Frederick Buechner's definition to find your vocation: "Where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet." I did. And it has served me well.



 

 

 



 

 See also:- [ Alumni News and Profiles ](/discover-stories-about/alumni-news-and-profiles)