College of Arts and Sciences Newsroom

Associate professor and radio host ‘Dr. J’ celebrates 20-year spin on UD's Airwaves
By Elisabeth Watson ’26
For 20 years, University of Dayton associate professor Art Jipson has been educating students not only about sociology but also about the local music scene.
His show, Your Tuesday Afternoon Alternative, airs on UD’s student-run radio station, WUDR Flyer Radio every Tuesday from 3-6 p.m. since 2004. It focuses on showcasing local musicians and artists, particularly those from the Dayton area and the University campus.
"Most of our listeners are online or they're on campus,” said Jipson, associate professor of sociology, who is better known to his listeners and students as ‘Dr. J.’ “It's been a really joyful journey to do this and to be able to share music. For a radio show to go this long is unusual."
Jipson launched his show three years after continuing his teaching and scholarly career in 2001 in the UD Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work. The show marked its 20th anniversary on Nov. 26, 2024.
As a scholar, Jipson specializes in explaining social behavior, identity construction, social deviance, and criminality, including topics such as popular music, white-collar crime and extremism. These themes are often featured in his articles for academic journals, as well as The Conversation, an online news platform that aims to provide articles and information by academic experts and professionals. In addition, he is frequently quoted by media outlets including The Washington Post, NPR and Business Insider.
Jipson has studied and taught at several universities in the region, but he fell in love with the culture here at UD.
"The people were lovely,” he said. “I liked the Marianist character of the school — that speaks to me. I like the spiritual component of what we do — educating the whole person."
His radio show has not only featured lots of local stars but also world-renowned artists such as Noah Kahan, Tamar Berk, Hello June, Robyn Hitchcock, and The Lumineers, many of whom have signed drum heads that he collects and hangs in his office in St. Joseph Hall. However, in recent years Jipson has made the shift to highlighting the voices and talent of Dayton musicians.

“After a few years of doing the show, my wife Tracey helped me reframe the show by suggesting I focus on what I really love — local and new music,” Jipson said. “The show was originally called The School of Rock with Dr. J and when we couldn't settle on a name, she suggested Your Tuesday Afternoon Alternative, because the show explores music that is not widely known.”
Although Jipson has been hosting his show for the past 20 years, behind the scenes UD students are helping to make WUDR happen.
“I think the biggest thing Flyer Radio has prepared me for is just being comfortable,” said Sean Vitales, a junior media production major from Indianapolis. “It’s a huge thing to be able to put on your resume upon graduation — four years of public radio. Being able to be on the microphone that frequently is incredibly valuable.”
Students who work at WUDR get the opportunity to learn how to host, produce and run their own radio shows. These shows typically air one to two times a week and center around music, sports and other topics of interest on campus.
“I think radio is a wonderful learning experience for students,” said Pat Enright, director of Flyer Media. “They learn about the ‘ins-and-outs’ of radio production, and many other skills as part of their experience including organization and time management, working as part of a team, working under pressure, critical thinking and interviewing techniques.”
Marissa Perkins, a senior media production major from Noblesville, Indiana, joined Flyer Radio during her first year at UD.
“From the start I found radio to be a cozy corner of my life I had control over,” Perkins said. “I was able to express myself as I pleased and it made me feel heard in a time I felt very unheard. Flyer Radio prepared me for what to expect in terms of software skills, tech skills and people skills.”
Jipson’s show is broadcast from one of several new state-of-the-art studios in the Roger Glass Center for the Arts, located on the west side of campus near Raymond L. Fitz Hall. The Glass Center features an art gallery, concert hall, experimental theater and production facilities for Flyer TV, Flyer News and Flyer Radio.
“The new studio and equipment is just awesome,” Jipson said. “I can't wait to bring in new guests and showcase local talent on the show. I am constantly listening to new music or listening to what people recommend or are writing about, and there's always an amazing new discovery just around the corner and for me that's exciting and that is what makes this show unique.”
Tune in to Your Tuesday Afternoon Alternative from 3-6 p.m. Tuesdays on WUDR Flyer Radio 99.5/98.1 FM and online at https://listen.streamon.fm/wudr. You can read Dr. J’s music blog at https://yourtuesdayafternoonalternative.com/.
Photos by Julia Daschbach