Michelle Starke, ‘15
Michelle Starke’s dual bachelor’s degrees in graphic design, and mass communication and media studies assisted her well during college and in her international career.
While at CMU, Starke was a marketing intern for CMU’s Marketing and Communication Office. She also produced advertising for Horizon Magazine, a full-color student magazine produced once each semester by CMU students, in addition to her duties as a resident assistant (RA).
“Being an RA was a great experience!” said Starke.
Before graduation, Starke was also employed with Cobb Marketing, a local marketing agency, as a freelance graphic designer. She designed and created marketing materials for clients such as St. Mary's Hospital, Grand Valley Drainage Authority and Mesa County Valley School District 51.
Starke knew she wanted to travel internationally after graduation and worked to make it happen.
Working mostly remotely, Starke began as a consultant with Leysin American School in Switzerland, which is about 78 miles from Geneva. As their public relations and marketing manager, Starke put the skills she learned at CMU to work, promoting and advertising the school to potential international and European students.
Always education minded, Starke went on to receive her Master of Arts from Yaşar Üniversitesi in 2018. She then took a position with Ermitage International School in Maisons-Laffitte, France, about 15 miles outside of Paris. Starke credits her education in producing effective promotional materials and advertising at CMU for helping her land her latest job as a marketing and communications consultant for the bilingual K-12 day and boarding school.
In addition to starting one of the CMU Alumni Association’s newest chapters, the International Alumni Chapter, Starke and her fiancé, fellow CMU alumnus Connor Weik, will soon marry in her hometown of Pennsburg, Pennsylvania.