An accomplished entertainment personality with credits in many different media, meteorologist Kim Dillon is also an expert equestrienne with numerous awards to her credit. She earned her bachelor’s degree in aeronautics from the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University in the Phoenix suburb of Tempe, and she holds a commercial pilot’s license with instrument and multi-engine ratings. Kim Dillon took additional professional training, as a broadcast meteorologist, from Mississippi State University (MSU).

1. By Kim Dillon, Meteorologist

2. Introduction
 An accomplished entertainment personality with credits in many
different media, meteorologist Kim Dillon is also an expert
equestrienne with numerous awards to her credit. She earned
her bachelor’s degree in aeronautics from the Ira A. Fulton
Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University in the
Phoenix suburb of Tempe, and she holds a commercial pilot’s
license with instrument and multi-engine ratings. Kim Dillon
took additional professional training, as a broadcast
meteorologist, from Mississippi State University (MSU).
While some people have secured jobs on the strength of an
appealing personality, most on-the-air weather announcers have
some formal training in meteorology or geosciences. Some
schools and universities, such as MSU, have developed curricula
that incorporate the requirements of a degree in meteorology
with training in broadcasting.

3. Broadcast Meteorology
 At MSU, the mix is 41 credits (16 courses) in meteorology and 23
credits (nine courses) in broadcasting. Students who earn a
bachelor’s degree in broadcast meteorology theoretically have a
competitive advantage in obtaining employment in the field.
Most broadcast television stations today require applicants for a
weather announcer’s position to submit tape of sample weather
broadcasts in addition to the traditional hard copy resume and
cover letter. The colleges and universities that offer broadcast
meteorology degrees generally have a comprehensive range of
production facilities and work with students who are preparing
such tapes; in addition, there are commercial facilities in most
markets that produce the tapes for aspiring broadcast
meteorologists.