In her current role as the director of constituent engagement at the University, Andrea Darlas regularly employs the expertise and connections she built during her career as a multimedia journalist in the Chicago area. 

Prior to her 22 years as a radio and television reporter at WGN, Darlas DJed at WPGU. She said the professionalism of her colleagues prepared her for work in a professional newsroom.

“PGU was run so well, it was like clockwork,” Darlas said. “They ran it like — and it really was — a real radio station. The people were so passionate. (Many of my coworkers) are either still in radio or had a successful career in radio.” 

Darlas said that the connections she built on campus, specifically at the Illini Media Company, have resulted in lifelong friendships and working relationships, listing now-prominent Chicago radio and television personalities she met during her time at WPGU.

“In my experience at WPGU, you’ll keep these friends, these contacts, these connections your whole life,” Darlas said. “Truly, it does translate so well to the industry because it really kind of lays a pattern for respect.”

Although Darlas no longer regularly hosts the news for WGN, she can still be found doing freelance work with various stations throughout the city and hosting her own podcast for WLS.

“I host a podcast — it’s called Show and Tell,” Darlas said. “It’s about arts, entertainment, museums and culture — everything that’s really going on in Chicago. And then I still fill in for them on occasion, like, freelancing, if any of their hosts take days off.”

Darlas said that after 22 years as an on-air reporter at WGN, she had accomplished everything she wanted to do at the station. When she reached that point, Darlas said her longtime friend and colleague, Associate Chancellor for Public Affairs Robin Kaler, offered her a position at the University at the perfect time.

In her new role, Darlas said that she is part of the University’s effort to expand its presence in Chicago, which also includes the new Grainger master’s program in Chicago and the placement of graduates at companies in the city.

“I’ve always had strong Illini pride,” Darlas said. “I can’t say enough about how much I love going to Chicago to represent the University now. Robin (Kaler) and I are kind of establishing this University presence in Chicago — it’s really like a homecoming.”

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