Office Hours with John Gardner
We are searching for big ideas that inspire hope and action in higher education around institutional transformation and innovation to advance student success and more equitable student outcomes. Joining John Gardner are higher education leaders and other relevant persons of interest who will discuss innovation and strategies that improve higher education.The Gardner Institute, a 24-year-old non-profit, has been at the forefront of innovation in higher education; our mission very clearly connects us to the broader societal efforts to increase social justice.The Gardner Institute connects with thousands of professionals in the higher education ecosystem; through a wide array of activities such as Transformative Conversations, the Teaching and Learning Academy, and the Socially Just Design Series, and through our work as an Intermediary for Scale supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. As a leader in the student success movement in higher education, we strive to provide support for institutions interested in social justice and institutional transformation.
Office Hours with John Gardner
JD Gardner- The First-Year Experience
Meet JD Gardner, the grandson of founder Dr. John Gardner. JD is from Lexington, South Carolina and graduated in 2023 from Heathwood Hall, a prestigious private school in Columbia, South Carolina.
In his time as a Heathwood Hall student, he earned a 3.9 GPA, was a 3-year honor roll student, as well as voted into school office as the executive council secretary. JD has devoted his life to athletics just as much in the classroom. On the court at Heathwood Hall, JD was a 1000 point scorer, the 2022-23 regional player of the year, a 3 time all region player, broke the schools single game scoring record, as well as achieving other notable honors.
JD is now a student-athlete at Sewanee: The University of the South, where he has continued his basketball career. In his first year, JD was selected to the Deans List, as well as a conference SAA all academic honor roll selection. JD is a member of the Greens-view Capital Investments Club. JD is an undeclared student, but is a business minor and heading towards the finance/economics route. For the 2024 summer, JD is interning with State Farm.