About Us

Station History

Back in 1962, WHFR began as a student radio club at (then) Henry Ford Community College, with only a double-closet-sized room for operating a public address system providing a variety of music and campus announcements to the large dining room of the Student Center. However, the club''s mission since its start was to start a real over-the-air broadcast station, serving the unique music and information needs of the community, as well as the students of the College.

By 1978, the HFCC administration, recognizing the spirit and seeing the dedication, applied for an FM broadcast license from the Federal Communications Commission. The license was granted in 1979, but the preparations necessary to broadcast--construction, equipment, staffing, and budget--took until 1985 to get worked out, when the station went on the air.

Beginning with only six hours a day on six days a week, with all shows prerecorded, WHFR grew steadily as it proved itself and attracted more volunteers, first going "live" in 1987 (for three hours a week!) In 1988, with a schedule of 12 hours a day, the WHFR staff was stretched too thin to continue its PA operation, and moved all of its equipment and music library out of the Student Center into the new HFCC Fine Arts Center. Since 1997, we have achieved a 24/7 broadcasting schedule, plus internet streaming, with the help of over 50 student and alumni volunteers.

In 2002, with the completion of the renovation of Student Center, WHFR-FM 89.3 made its homecoming.

Mission and Format

WHFR exists to provide a real-world lab experience in telecommunication for Henry Ford College students, to serve the needs of Dearborn and the surrounding communities, and to assist HFC college relations.

WHFR programs ALTERNATIVE VARIETY, music little heard elsewhere on Detroit area radio stations, almost 40% of which is Classical but also featuring: Alternative/Modern Rock, Big Band, Country, Americana/Folk, Blues, Hip Hop, Jazz, Space Rock, Urban, and World music, in addition to a weekly public affairs show. All music shows highlight, as much as possible: new releases, independent labels, and local artists. Through a satellite-delivered service, we provide 60-plus hours/week of classical music delivered by American Public Media.

Staff Directory

WHFR has a volunteer student staff of about 50 HFC students and alumni, directly supervised by an appointed group of officers, headed by the General Manager. All staff, including officers, must first enroll in and successfully complete a HFC one credit hour Media Communication Arts course, MCA 189: Introduction to WHFR Radio.

WHFR Officers

General Manager

Susan McGraw
313-845-9842
scmcgraw (at) hfcc.edu

Operations Manager, Interim Promotions Coordinator

Robb Campau
313-317-6579
whfr-om (at) hfcc.edu

Program Director

Pat Frisco
313-317-6542
whfr-pd (at) hfcc.edu

Head Music Director

Mike Reynolds
313-845-9783
whfr-pm (at) hfcc.edu

Area Music Directors

  • Big Band - Joe Sullivan
  • Blues - Kitty Luv
  • Folk - Phil Maq
  • Gospel - Andre Archer
  • Jazz - Patrick Frisco
  • Local - Ashleigh Martin
  • R&B - Lisa Fakir
  • Rockabilly - Alan Contino

Production Director

Bob Burnham
313-317-6541
whfr-pm (at) hfcc.edu

Web Manager

Ryan Youngs
whfr-wm (at) hfcc.edu

Multimedia Manager, Newsletter Editor, Record Show Coordinator

Michael Dereniewski
313-317-6579
medereniewski (at) hfcc.edu