Kelli Cluque's love affair with radio began early. Growing up, her mother always had the radio on, and Cluque became fascinated by "the music, the information, the local-ism, the entertaining DJs, and the connection to artists." While a student at Norco High School, she interned at KWRM, a radio station in Corona. One of the DJs told her about the telecommunications program at San Bernardino Valley College, and she decided to pay the campus a visit. "I went to the radio and TV stations and thought, this is it!" she said.  
  
Cluque enrolled and earned her associate's degree in two years, spending the first year studying radio and the second television. "It was a great experience to be a student and have access to real radio and TV stations," she said. 
  
Cluque went on to earn her bachelor's degree in radio, television, and film management from San Diego State University, and launched a career that took her around the United States, with stops at local stations KCAL, KCX, and KATY. She has more than 50,000 hours of live on-air experience, and just left her position as associate program director and on-air personality at KCAL/KOLA in Redlands. "Radio is a fun and exciting livelihood," she said. "I've worked at a variety of radio stations playing different formats, and have passionately loved them all."  


She is now embarking on a new role as operations coordinator for Coyote Radio and Advertising at Cal State San Bernardino. Coyote Radio and Advertising is a hands-on learning lab that teaches students about everything from radio broadcasting to graphic design to media programming, and Cluque will oversee the radio station in the areas of production, music, on-campus promotions, on-air presentation, and student learning.  
  
It can be tough to break into the radio business, because there is so much competition and limited positions, and "persistence is key," Cluque said. For SBVC students who want to work in radio, Cluque suggests finding an internship, as that's how nearly all people in radio get their start. "SBVC affords so many opportunities for radio internships and part-time employment," she said. "It's a terrific launching pad right here at home in the Inland Empire."