David P. Gardner

David Pierpont Gardner is a university administrator and was the president of the University of Utah. More recently, he was the president of the University of California. He is also Professor of Higher Education Emeritus at both institutions.

Gardner was born on March 24, 1933, in Berkeley, California. He received his bachelor’s degree in political science, history, and geography from Brigham Young University. He holds a master’s degree in political science and a PhD in higher education from the University of California, Berkeley.

His first appointment was as Assistant to the Chancellor at University of California, Santa Barbara. In 1967 he was also appointed Assistant Chancellor and Professor of Higher Education. In 1971, he accepted the position as the Vice President for Public Service Programs and University Dean of University Extension for UC Berkeley. In 1972, the became the Vice President for Extended Academic and Public Service Programs in the Office of the President in the UC system.

In 1973, he became the president of the University of Utah where he stayed until 1983. He then returned to the University of California system as president. His wife Libby was named as Associate to the President and the two worked together closely until her death from heart failure in 1991. He then resigned effective 1992, stating that he could not continue without her.[1]

From 1993 to 1999, he was president of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. In 2001, he became a professor of educational leadership and policy in the Graduate School of Education at the University of Utah. He served as Chairman of the Board of the J. Paul Getty Trust.

He and his wife Libby are the parents of four daughters. In 1995, he married Sheila S. Rogers.

He was also chaired the National Commission on Excellence in Education, whose members wrote the 1985 well-known educational document, A Nation at Risk. The report helped bring about a reform movement in education such as the country had not seen for decades.

Garner is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.