BRISTOL, Tenn., Aug. 22, 2022 — King University has named Bianca Marais as director of Multimedia Resources. In her new role, Marais will produce communications content for use across numerous King platforms, and also serve as a community and media liaison.
Marais is well known around the region for her work as a broadcast reporter, digital content producer, and anchor for WJHL News Channel 11 in Johnson City, Tennessee. She has also previously worked as a section editor at the Greeneville Sun, based in Greeneville, Tennessee. A native of South Africa, she now calls Tennessee home.
“We are delighted to welcome Bianca to King University,” said Matt Roberts, Ed.D., provost of King. “Her communications expertise, leadership skills, and diverse experiences around the globe make her a great fit for this role and the King community. We look forward to her contributions, not only to our Marketing and Communications department, but to the University as a whole.”
Marais discovered her love for communications early on, serving as editor of her school newspaper and participating in the photography club of her high school in Mpumalanga Province in South Africa. After serving as a member of the student governing body and graduating in the top 10 of her class at 17, Marais was turned away from university study for being too young to enroll. An ensuing gap year led her to volunteer in 16 countries around the world, including tutoring children, working on farms and in restaurants in Turkey, Nepal, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Jordan.
Eventually her studies led her to east Tennessee, where she enrolled at East Tennessee State University (ETSU) and served as a columnist for the East Tennessean, as well as a contributor and page designer for El Nuevo Tennessean. She graduated cum laude in 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in Media and Communication, and also earned a post-graduate diploma in pre-primary and primary teaching from the Asian College of Teachers in 2018.
“Over the last few years, I embarked on a life-altering journey that not only helped me realize how small the world is, but also taught me how to unleash my multimedia craft,” Marais said. “I discovered the Tri-Cities region several years ago, and it is a wonderful place and community that I cannot bring myself to leave. I’m blessed to be able to join King in this new role, and I look forward to working with the University’s staff, faculty, students, and alumni as we strive to advance King’s mission.”
For more information about King University, please visit www.king.edu.