Boise State University has named Peter Morrill, the former longtime general manager of Idaho Public Television, as the interim general manager for Boise State Public Radio. “Peter has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to public media and to the state Idaho, and his experience and expertise assures that Boise State Public Radio will continue to play a valuable role in the community and won’t miss a beat as we conduct a national search for a new general manager,” said Mark Wheeler, the dean of Extended Studies at Boise State. Wheeler was initially named interim head of the station when former General Manager John Hess left earlier this month.

Morrill retired in 2013 after a more than 30-year career at Idaho Public Television; he was named general manager there in 1996. “Boise State Public Radio every day plays a unique and critical role in the lives of Idahoans. It’s exciting for me to be part of this vital service during its leadership transition,” he said in a statement. He’ll start on Jan. 4.

Under Morrill’s leadership, Idaho Public Television became the most-watched PBS affiliate in the nation and the producer of award-winning local content including Outdoor Idaho, Dialogue, Idaho Reports, Science Trek and the Idaho Debates.