Richard Swafford

Rich Swafford joined Little Rock Public Radio in October 2026 as our Underwriting Coordinator, bringing a diverse professional background, a love of learning, and a passion for working with an organization whose mission he believes in.

In his role, Rich works with local businesses and clients throughout Little Rock Public Radio’s 14-plus-county listening area to develop corporate support and sponsorship opportunities for KUAR and KLRE. He helps connect businesses with public radio audiences through underwriting partnerships that support the station’s news, arts, culture, and music programming while providing local organizations with an opportunity to share their message with the community.

Rich earned a bachelor’s degree in German Language and Literature from Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas, and a master’s degree in German from Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts. After graduating, he taught German at Brandeis University and Boston University before transitioning into publishing. He worked with TriLiteral, a distribution center owned by Harvard University Press, Yale University Press, and MIT Press, before moving into software supporting the publishing industry.

Now, Rich is excited to bring his experience and curiosity to a new field while helping strengthen the relationships between Little Rock Public Radio and the businesses that make public media possible. Outside of work, he enjoys quilting.