Maryville University announced today the appointment of Gabrielle Young as its Executive Director for Strategic Marketing and Communications.

Young will engineer and direct Maryville’s marketing and communication strategy, including brand and reputation management, media relations, digital marketing and crisis communications, and partner closely with external agencies and internal departments to support the strategic growth of the University.

“Maryville’s commitment to access and opportunity for learners of all backgrounds and ages requires very strategic marketing and communications in this competitive and complex higher education environment,” said Laraine Davis, vice president of community and government relations. “Young’s extensive background in traditional marketing together with her knowledge of the digital marketing landscape and her ability to maximize tools and strategies in the digital environment makes her the ideal fit.”

Young is a proven marketing leader with more than 15 years of experience in advertising, public relations and marketing across domestic and international markets. Her expertise includes strategy development, branding, creative and marketing automation capabilities that cover search engine optimization, search engine marketing and analytics. She has led a breadth of diverse teams and has experience in automotive, manufacturing and consumer brands.

Most recently, Young served as Director of Marketing for Blue Bird Corporation, where she built the in-house marketing organization from the ground up, combining both digital and analog executions into a strategic omnichannel brand experience.

“I am absolutely thrilled to join the Maryville University team. The focus and drive to create the ecosystem of the learner of tomorrow opens so many opportunities to truly strive for positive change,” Young said. “Maryville is focused on providing quality education in an ever-changing digital landscape, and I couldn’t be more excited to support the innovative strategies that will change the way the world sees higher education.”

Young holds a Bachelor of Arts from Drake University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, with a concentration in digital marketing and entrepreneurship and strategic innovation. Additionally, Young has a Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification and a Certification in Art Direction from The Creative Circus.