Now Director of Electronic Media at Western Carolina University, Don Connelly began his broadcast career as an undergraduate with a morning radio show, winning production awards from the Missouri Broadcasters Association while still in school. Upon graduation, he began teaching and simultaneously managing a public radio station. The station attracted national attention for its large audience and its consistent ability to generate more community funding per capita than any other public station in the country.

Don later ventured to leave behind a tenured teaching position to entered a career in commercial broadcasting. This led to 18 years of commercial experience, managing and developing radio stations in Florida. Prior to his return to academia and joining the faculty at Western Carolina, Connelly was with Clear Channel Communications in Orlando, Florida, as Affiliate Relations Director for Florida's Radio Networks.

Throughout his extensive career, Don has always maintained a keen interest in production, and he has earned numerous production awards, including two "best of competition" awards at the Broadcast Education Association Media Festival.