Michele Gaither Sparks

Michele brings more than 30 years of experience at the intersection of brand, strategy and leadership. A former vice president at Transylvania University and chief marketing officer at Miami University, Michele has led transformational brand and enrollment initiatives at the highest levels of higher education. She also brings corporate perspective from her time as senior director at Valvoline, where she sharpened her expertise in strategic communications and media relations. 

With a foundation in journalism, English and theater from Asbury University, Michele combines sharp storytelling instincts with executive-level strategy. She understands how institutions think, how leaders decide and how brands move markets. Today at GMB, she helps colleges and universities clarify who they are, own their distinctiveness and align their messaging to drive measurable impact.