A native of Crossville, TN, Anne Dunham came to the Tri-Cities region as a student at East Tennessee State University and now has more than 30 years of experience as a professional communicator in the region.
She began her professional career as a feature writer at the Kingsport Times-News, then joined the Bristol Herald Courier in 1990 as a city government reporter. During her 11-year tenure at the Bristol newspaper, she covered the daily operations of Bristol Tennessee, Bristol Virginia and Bluff City, and reported on a long list of other newsworthy happenings and events - from crimes and court to business and tourism. During her journalism career, she was inducted into the Virginia School Board’s Media Hall of Fame and won several awards from the Tennessee Press Association and the Virginia Press Association.
She joined Virginia Highlands Community College in 2001 as the college’s first-ever Coordinator of Public Relations & Marketing. In her role there, she worked closely with other members of the campus community to lead media and public relations efforts, alumni relations, marketing and advertising, the development of promotional publications and presentations, and social media strategies. She also played a key role in developing award nominations that brought local and national attention to the institution and won numerous awards for her writing, publication design, and marketing campaigns.
Last year, Anne joined King University as Associate Director of Communication, overseeing media relations and social media efforts and serving as the university’s content writer for a long list of digital and print publications.
Anne holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Journalism and a Master of Arts Degree in Professional Communication, both from ETSU, and a Master of Arts Degree in Public Relations from Kent State University. She is a Certified Master of Social Media and is currently pursuing Accreditation of Public Relations through the Public Relations Society of America.
“We are excited to welcome Anne to our team. She is the perfect fit for us. Her institutional knowledge of city government and her already established relationships with local media makes the transition an effortless one,” said Terrie Talbert, Director of Community Relations for the City. “Anne’s experience and innovative communications tactics will be a great addition to the City’s communications team. She has proven to be an excellent leader and strategist. Dunham will begin her duties with the City in mid-June.”
A voracious reader, Anne’s hobbies include watching reality TV, listening to Rod Stewart and the other great musicians of the 1980s, and enjoying the scenic beauty of the region with her husband, Rick, aboard their houseboat at South Holston Lake. The Dunhams live in Bristol, TN.
