Professor Utter brings decades of experience in media content creation, radio broadcasting, and global missions to his role at Olivet Nazarene University. Since joining Shine.FM in 2011 and the faculty in 2015, he has been dedicated to mentoring future media professionals in radio and podcasting.
Prof. Utter’s media career began in high school as a columnist, reporter, and photographer for his hometown newspaper. He earned his undergraduate degree in broadcast communications from Olivet before pursuing a master’s degree in missiology at Nazarene Theological Seminary. His passion for media and ministry led him to serve as program director for WCFL, one of the nation’s top CHR radio stations, for seven years.
In 2001, he moved with his family to Buenos Aires, Argentina, to serve as the South America regional coordinator of World Mission Broadcast. There, he oversaw the creation of numerous radio and television programs in Spanish, Portuguese, Aymara, Guaraní, and Quechua. One of the largest productions, Mujer Valiosa (The Valued Woman), reached an estimated global radio audience of 100 million across 24 countries and a television audience of 50 million. While in South America, he also produced films and short-form video storytelling and earned a second master’s degree in communication, education, and culture from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.
After raising up a team of South American media producers, Prof. Utter transitioned leadership to regional directors and returned to the U.S. in 2009 to lead World Mission Broadcast globally. In this role, he helped launch initiatives such as Arabic television, Indian radio, Chinese television, and the Reflecting God devotional as a daily radio feature in English and Spanish. He continues to serve as global coordinator for World Mission Broadcast as a volunteer missionary.
At Olivet, Prof. Utter serves as executive director of Olivet Media Group, which oversees:
- Shine.FM Radio Network – Reaching audiences in Chicago, Indianapolis, and Northwest and North Central Indiana.
- Brilla.FM Radio Network – Spanish-language Christian radio with signals in Chicago and South Bend.
- Spark HD – A student-run station, awarded the 2024 Christian Music Broadcaster University Station of the Year.
Prof. Utter is passionate about developing the next generation of media professionals and connecting students with industry leaders such as KLOVE, The River (Columbus), and Way-FM/Hope Media Group (Nashville). He also conducts a special pinning ceremony in his office, where graduating students mark their place on his alumni map as they launch their careers.
In recognition of his impact, Prof. Utter was named Olivet Nazarene University’s Staff Member of the Year in 2024. He is a gold-level member of Christian Music Broadcasters and serves on the National Faith Advisory Board.