Marty Parkes To Oversee Marketing and Community Relations
12/5/08
Maryville University has announced that Marty Parkes, a nationally-recognized public relations expert, has joined the University as Associate Vice President of Marketing and Community Relations. His duties include oversight and leadership of University public relations, branding and advertising, publications, and the University’s Web site at https://www.maryville.edu/.
The appointment of Parkes is the most recent strategic move positioning Maryville – a private, four-year, comprehensive university in West St. Louis County – to achieve ambitious growth targets and recognition goals during the next five years. The University plans to increase total student enrollment from 3,500 to 4,500; establish new academic programs and residential buildings; and expand its international student population.
“We are exceptionally pleased to have Marty Parkes take the helm of Maryville’s marketing and community relations efforts” said Dr. Mark Lombardi, President. “Our strategic plan calls for Maryville to proclaim and celebrate its mission and accomplishments. Marty’s national experience and varied talents, particularly in the area of community and media outreach, will shine a deserving light on Maryville’s students and faculty and allow us to achieve our strategic goals.”
Parkes most recently served as Executive Director and CEO of Communities in Schools of the Lehigh Valley, a nonprofit organization based in Allentown, Pa., that helps at-risk youth succeed and graduate from high school. Prior to that assignment, Parkes had a distinguished career of 16 years at the U.S. Golf Association in Far Hills, N.J. He served his last 11 years at the USGA as Senior Director of Communications. Parkes dealt with all USGA communication issues and served as a chief spokesperson before local, regional and national audiences. During his USGA tenure, he managed a $26 million annual budget, oversaw the individual membership program that achieved a record renewal rate for the program’s 32-year history; oversaw a $20 million expansion of the museum and archives; and helped formulate graphic standards and branding guidelines for the USGA.
Parkes is the accomplished author of two books: Classic Shots, published in 2007 by The National Geographic Society, with a foreword by Arnold Palmer and an afterword by Thomas L. Friedman, and Up on the Hill, a history of Essex Fells (N.J.) Country Club, published in 1996.
“I am confident that Marty will play a pivotal role as Maryville University asserts a prominent presence in the community of higher education institutions, both regionally and nationally,” said Tom Eschen, Vice President of Institutional Advancement, to whom Parkes will report.
Parkes is married to Catherine Theron-Parkes and is the father of two children, Nicole, 19, a sophomore at Connecticut College in New London, Conn., and Trevor, 15, a sophomore at Moravian Academy in Bethlehem, Pa.
“I am very excited to join the staff of such a fine university as Maryville,” Parkes said. “Maryville remains deeply committed to telling its many interesting stories to students, alumni, faculty, media, and community. I am honored to undertake the important task of promoting Maryville’s unique position among Midwestern colleges and universities.”
Maryville University is ranked by USNews & World Report as one of America’s Best Colleges in the Midwest. Maryville students may choose from 50 academic programs, including degrees at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels. Among recent graduates, 94 percent are employed or attending graduate school. More than 15,000 Maryville alumni work and live in the St. Louis region.