Honoring their longtime neighbor Mary Lou Kouba, Dr. Nelia Afonso and Dr. George Alangaden are helping WDET-FM 101.9 expand its internship program through a new gift that supports Wayne State University students as well as others across a range of disciplines.  

Afonso and Alangaden have previously donated the bequest Kouba left to them to support access to education and opportunities at Wayne State. In 2023, they established the Mary Lou Kouba Endowed Memorial Scholarship in environmental science to honor Kouba’s dedication to fighting for equality and justice. 

With this new donation on her behalf, Afonso and Alangaden support WDET’s robust paid internship opportunities for Wayne State students and other local young professionals for the next five years.  

Afonso and Alangaden often talked about the news with Kouba. “She had this wonderful outlook on life and taking risks. She was a fierce supporter of independent journalism and the press,” says Afonso. With this gift in her memory, the couple hopes to see young people take to the field and develop creative ways to bring unbiased news to the forefront. 

WDET internships prepare students for success

WDET’s many paid learning opportunities provide hands-on, holistic experiences that educate and prepare the next generation of media professionals. With more than 24 different internship opportunities, the program attracts students from a variety of disciplines to work in reporting, production, marketing, music, business operations and more. Fourteen interns are working at WDET this summer. 

As part of their internships, students are immersed in the media profession and have access to coaching and development workshops. Interns get hands-on experience and have the chance to meet notable visitors. 

“Our interns are out in the field interviewing people, traveling across the state. They get that experience, and that’s what makes us different,” says WDET Strategic Initiatives Manager Diane Sanders, who directs the internship program. “I want our interns to see that there’s a lot they can do with their degree.” 

All of WDET’s internship roles are paid positions, which Sanders says is important for providing access to opportunities, in alignment with Wayne State’s mission. Afonso and Alangaden’s donation will cover the cost of two interns a year for five years with some additional funding. 

“We are grateful for the generous gift from Dr. Nelia Afonso and Dr. George Alangaden, which will support WDET’s work in preparing the next generation of media professionals,” said Dr. Keith Whitfield, interim provost and senior vice president of academic affairs. “As a community service of Wayne State University, WDET plays a key role in fostering connection, community and opportunity in Detroit, which includes its fantastic internship opportunities.” 

With this gift, Afonso and Alangaden join other major supporters of WDET’s internship program, including Michigan Central, the Harry A. and Margaret D. Towsley Foundation, the Ralph L. and Winifred E. Polk Foundation, the May Mitchell Royal Family Foundation, a 2025 Wayne State Presidential College to Career Pilot Award, as well as a number of other individual donors. 

For more information about WDET’s internship program, visit WDET’s internship page.

This story was cross-posted with WSU’s Division of Academic Affairs.

This month marks a milestone at WDET as the Don Was Motor City Playlist celebrates five years on air.  

Don Was and co-host Ann Delisi have delivered crate after crate of deep cuts and hits since 2021, helping listeners discover new favorite tracks and providing  stories about Detroit’s cultural history every Friday night.  

The show is a love letter to Detroit artists and a hub for all genres and musicians.  

Personal history of our hosts

Was and Delisi got to know each other while working on the Concert of Colors and cultivated a relationship that made them well-prepared for this powerhouse program. Delisi’s 35+ years of insights and experience as a broadcaster, combined with Was’ storytelling and internal archive of tunes, make this segment one of the most unique Detroit has to offer. 

Was, the six-time Grammy Award-winning Detroit native has done it all; quite frankly, there may be no music-related task too Herculean a feat for him to dip his hand in.  

He began his creative endeavors at Oak Park High School where formed his first band, The Saturns. But it wasn’t until he partnered with David Weiss to form Was (Not Was) that his talents were fully realized by the public with hits like “Walk the Dinosaur.”  

Following the band’s hiatus, Was became a successful producer, working with The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Willie Nelson and more. In 1995, he even received the Grammy for Producer of the Year.  

Delisi’s also a force to be reckoned with. She’s hosted Ann Delisi’s Essential Music program since 2009, focusing on creating a platform for local artists and spotlighting musical gems, both old and new.  

Delisi has interviewed a plethora of the greats, from David Bowie to Iggy Pop—she always keeps us on our toes with our ears pressed to the speakers.  

She’s also hosted Backstage Pass, a Detroit Public Television show about arts and culture in the city. In 2023, Delisi was presented with the Spirit of Detroit for her work in uplifting artists.  

Now, Was and Delisi combine their knowledge and lived experiences into one of Detroit’s funkiest radio shows. We couldn’t be prouder to host it here on WDET.

Here’s to five wonderful years of the Don Was Motor City Playlist!