New Mexico PBS names Phil Hoffman as general manager and CEO

The Board of Directors of New Mexico PBS (NMPBS/KNME-TV) has named Phil Hoffman as the station's next general manager and chief executive officer, effective April 1, following a national search.

Hoffman currently serves as assistant dean of Media and general manager of Ball State PBS and Indiana Public Radio. He brings more than 20 years of experience in public media leadership, multimedia strategy and higher education administration.

The search process, which began in October 2025, included a comprehensive national recruitment effort and multiple rounds of evaluation and interviews led by the Board in collaboration with leadership from The University of New Mexico and Albuquerque Public Schools.

Teresa Costantinidis, executive vice president of Finance and Administration at The University of New Mexico and chair of the NMPBS Board, said the process attracted a highly competitive pool of candidates from throughout the PBS system and public media landscape.

"Dr. Phil Hoffman is a strong and experienced leader who understands the vital role public media plays in advancing New Mexico," Costantinidis said. "I am pleased to welcome him as General Manager of NMPBS and am confident he will provide steady leadership as, in partnership with Albuquerque Public Schools and The University of New Mexico, the station continues to inform, educate and serve communities across our state."

Hoffman will begin serving as co-general manager on March 24 alongside retiring general manager and CEO Franz Joachim to ensure a smooth leadership transition. Joachim's final day will be March 31.

"I look forward to working with the team at New Mexico PBS to build on its legacy of civic service while adapting to today's media environment," Hoffman said. "The opportunity to serve New Mexico-with its rich culture and strong commitment to education and storytelling-is energizing."

At Ball State University, Hoffman led Ball State PBS, which serves more than 23 counties in east central Indiana, and Indiana Public Radio, a four-station network reaching 22 counties. He also serves as Indiana vice president for the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and as co-chair of Vision Maker Media, a national public media distributor supporting Indigenous storytelling.

Hoffman holds a doctorate in Higher Education Administration and has led innovation initiatives at multiple institutions, including the Public Media Accelerator Program at Ball State University. An Emmy Award-winning editor, director and writer, he has worked as a reporter and documentary producer. His 2009 documentary, Turn Blue: The Short Life of Ghoulardi, received two regional Emmy Awards.

The Board expressed deep appreciation to Joachim for his five decades of service in public media and his leadership at NMPBS since 2013. During his tenure, the station expanded its statewide reach, strengthened its financial position and advanced broadcast innovation.

New Mexico PBS serves northern and central New Mexico and the Navajo Nation and is co-licensed by The University of New Mexico and Albuquerque Public Schools. In addition to broadcast programming, NMPBS streams content statewide through the PBS app.

For more information, visit nmpbs.org.