Background
Sparks, Mildred Thomas was born on October 2, 1942 in Montgomery, Alabama, United States. Daughter of Leon and Annie Lee (Johnson) Thomas.
educator State agency administrator
Sparks, Mildred Thomas was born on October 2, 1942 in Montgomery, Alabama, United States. Daughter of Leon and Annie Lee (Johnson) Thomas.
Bachelor of Science, Alabama State University, 1964. Master of Science, Pepperdine University, 1978. Postgraduate, Claremont College.
Postgraduate, California State University. Postgraduate, Boston College.
Teacher Dayton (Ohio) Schools, 1964-1966, Oxon Hill (Maryland) Schools, 1966-1970. Technician Reading Laboratory Grambling (Louisiana) State University, 1972. Reading laboratory aide California City (California) Schools, 1975.
Reading instructor Cerro Coso Southern Outreach, Edwards Air Force Base, California, 1976-1978. Substitute teacher San Bernardino City Schools, 1979, Aquinas High School, San Bernardino, 1978-1979. Reading laboratory teacher San Bernardino High School, 1979.
Instructor reading laboratory San Bernardino Valley College, 1980-1981, associate professor reading, department head, 1981-1986. Contract administrator Hercules Missile Ordinance and Space Group, Magna, Utah, 1986, Alliant Techsys. (formerly Hercules Missile Ordinance and Space Group), 1987-1997.
Director Office of Black Affairs State of Utah, 1997—2000. Associate professor Salt Lake Community College, Salt Lake City, since 2003. Member President's Diversity Council Teaching Circuit - Courage Teach Salt Lake City (Utah) Community College, since 2003, member general education committee.
Member Black Advisory Council, Office of Black Affairs, AARP (member Utah board, safety program instructor). Presenter workshops, community events. Troop volunteer Girl Scouts United States.
Volunteer The March of Dimes, American Heart Association, Visitation of the Elderly Homebound, American Cancer Society and Marriage and Family Workshop for Teens, Catholic Community Services. Civil rights movement participant Alabama Bus Boycott. Member minority health advisory board Utah Health Department.
Member Catholic Women League, Black Caths. Utah, Salt Lake City, African American Task Force, Governor's Initiative on Family Today, Anti-Discrimination Committee. Planning committee United Way Greater Salt Lake, volunteer.
Past president Salt Lake Diocesan Pastoral Council, volunteer. Member Americorp Legacy program, Salt Lake County, Utah State Board Aging and Adult Services. Member California Teachers Association, National Council Teachers English, Association Supervision and Curriculum Development, Western College Reading Association, Business and Professional Women's Club, Link's, Jack and Jill of America Inc., Delta Kappa Gamma, Alpha Kappa Alpha.
Married John H. Sparks, August 29, 1964. Children: Melanie J. Thomas Bosak, Jennifer L. Gerhartz, Regina F.