Ms. Carol Gilbert - Executive Vice President, Programs & Marketing

Carol Gilbert joined American Public University System (APUS) in 2004, and now leads the institution’s strategic planning, marketing and investor relations initiatives.  She was one of the instrumental drivers in building the institution from a small military-focused university into a well-respected, regionally accredited leader in online higher education, which now educates a broad range of working adults with an emphasis in public service market.  Starting with limited funds, she built APUS’s American Military University and American Public University brands through a successful customer relationship marketing strategy supplemented with social media and interactive marketing.

Ms. Gilbert has more than 25 years of strategic planning and marketing experience in service related businesses, including hospitality, health care and education.  Most recently, she served as brand vice president for Marriott International, leading the growth of the emerging SpringHill Suites' brand into a profitable line of business.  During her career at Marriott, she launched the Fairfield Inn & Suites brand extension to accelerate development and brand growth.  She also served for six years in the strategic planning and new ventures group addressing a range of strategic issues from human resource management to new business development for the company.

She has also served as Vice President, Strategic Planning at Choice Hotels International, and Director of Marketing Strategy at Manor Health Care Corp. Prior to 1985, Ms. Gilbert held legislative and staff positions at the law firm of Dickstein, Shapiro & Morin, the U.S. House of Representatives, and the Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Ms. Gilbert earned an A.B. degree in International Relations from Brown University, graduating magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa.  She also earned an MBA in Marketing and Finance from the University of Maryland.