LtCol Sparks is the Director of the Command and Staff College Blended Seminar Program.
Education
Cedarville University (B.A. Philosophy) May 2003
Expeditionary Warfare School Distance Education Program: May 2010
San Diego State University (M.A. Philosophy) Aug 2011 (Thesis: A Pragmaticist Argument for the Assumption of Moral Reality)
Command and Staff College Distance Education Program: May 2016
University of Michigan (M.A. Higher Education Institutional Research) May 2019
Webster University (M.A. International Relations) May 2020
Air War College Distance Learning: Dec 2022
Johns Hopkins University (Ed.D. Mind, Brain and Teaching) Dec 2023 (Dissertation: Fostering Graduate Student Creative Problem Solving in a Professional Military Education Context)
Publications
King, Patricia M., and Tim Sparks. 2022. “An Examination of Students’ Moral Character Experiences Using the Four Component Model and Self-Evolution Theory.” Journal of College and Character 23(2): 97–118. doi:10.1080/2194587X.2022.2053292
King, Patricia M. and Tim Sparks. 2022. “Why Use the Four Component Model to Examine Moral Character Development in College? Critical Conversations #29.” JCC Connexions 8(2): https://naspa.org/blog/why-use-the-four-component-model-to-examine-moral-character-development-in-college-critical-conversations-29
Sparks, Timothy A. “What Do Creative Problem-Solvers Need?” In The Military Scholarship of Teaching and Learning: Amplifying Research Findings from the Fourth MSTOL Forum, edited by Lauren Mackenzie and Megan J. Hennessey, 47-83. Quantico, VA: Marine Corps University Press, 2025. https://www.usmcu.edu/Portals/218/MSOTL_web2.pdf
Presentations
“Targeting Metacognition and Creativity.” MCU Faculty Development (Apr 2024)
“What do Creative Problem-solvers need?” Military Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Forum (Dec 2023)
“Creativity Research at MCU,” Marine Corps University Faculty Development (Apr 2022)
“Science of Learning,” Marine Corps University Faculty Development (Jan 2022)
“Liberating Structures,” Marine Corps University Faculty Development (Nov 2019)
“The Environment, Democracy, and Love,” Southern California Philosophy Conference, (Oct 2015)
“Consensus Theories of Morality,” Society for the Advancement of American Philosophy Conference (Mar 2013)
Service
Editorial board, International Perspectives on Military Education
Planning team, 2024 Military Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Forum
SACSCOC 5th Year Interim Report Coordinator, MCU 2021
Quality Enhancement Plan Committee Member, MCU 2024-2025