Passion, Perseverance, and Principles: WFAN’s Dov Kramer ’89SVC

“St. John’s had a good communications department, it was nearby, and I was able to get my degree in two-and-a-half years (plus one summer semester) rather than four years,” he said, explaining that he was able to fulfill his theology and philosophy requirements by transferring credits he earned through Yeshiva University in Israel.

Raised in an Orthodox Jewish household in Kew Gardens Hills, NY, Rabbi Kramer’s St. John’s experience began more than five years after graduating high school. He earned his Rabbinic Ordination in 2000 and has written extensively on Jewish topics.

“I was older than most students on campus and was already working full time in radio for most of the time I was enrolled, so it was not your typical college experience.”

While his path to earning his bachelor’s degree took him from Queens to Israel and back, his foray into radio began within the confines of the five boroughs at the now-defunct Announcer Training Studios, a trade school for would-be broadcasters. “One of my instructors was ‘Fast’ Freddy Colon. He worked at a new dance music station (HOT 103, now HOT 97FM) and helped me get a job in their research department.”

There, he performed myriad jobs and tasks, including helping on-air personality, “Broadway” Bill Lee with his countdown show, and filling in at sister station, WHN, which focused on country music. “When WHN changed formats to become the first all-sports station in the nation—WFAN—I was hired to run the board overnight and work with the legendary Steve Somers.”

He worked at The FAN, as it is best known, while simultaneously pursuing his degree at St. John’s; his B.S. in Communication Arts (with a minor in Business) served him well throughout his career. “I was taken more seriously by some corporate-types because I had a degree,” he said. “The things I learned in classes at St. John’s contributed to my perspective about mass communication and its impact.”

Rabbi Kramer is a bit of a unicorn in broadcasting, as he has been employed by one station—New York’s WFAN—for most of his career, nearly 38 years. In part, he attributes his longevity at the station to its flexibility with his schedule.

“A major factor is how accommodating WFAN has always been regarding my Sabbath observance. Any opportunities elsewhere would have a high bar to overcome, specifically, the unknown of how accepting another station would be of my religious observance.”

Over time, he transitioned to working the night shift with Howie Rose and New York Mets games, and then daytime shows (including Mike and the Mad Dog, cohosted by fellow alumnus Mike Francesa ’77SVC), continuously adding to his list of responsibilities.

“When the person who oversaw the Mets broadcasts left, I took over that role, in addition to working with the midday show,” he said. “That transitioned to overseeing the New York Yankees broadcasts when WFAN started carrying the Yankees.”

Today, he is the station’s executive producer. He works with its popular midday show, Brandon Tierney & Sal Licata, where he helps plan the rundown of the show each day, including discussion topics, live commercial reads, contests and giveaways, and more. “After the show, I focus on other responsibilities, such as the Yankees broadcast ensuring the control room staff has all the non-sports information they need for their shows.”

He encourages students interested in broadcasting to get involved with their college radio station and pursue internships at media companies. “If you want to be on the air, start podcasting and creating social media clips,” he advised. “Write about what interests you. If you work hard, pay attention to every detail—especially the small ones—and have talent, this can become your livelihood.”

Rabbi Kramer’s passion for broadcasting is only matched by his appreciation for the values that shaped his journey. Beyond the skills he developed and the experience he gained, he recognizes the importance of an institution that supports its students’ diverse paths.

“I love that St. John’s has principles it stands for, and I am confident that it tries to do right by its students—no matter which background they come from.”