[3] Gardner's bachelor's degree in political science, history, and geography was earned at Brigham Young University in 1955.
He went on to the University of California, Berkeley, to obtain an MA in political science in 1959 and a PhD in higher education in 1966.
Gardner was appointed Assistant to the Chancellor at University of California, Santa Barbara, (UCSB) before completing his PhD, and accepted a joint appointment as Assistant Chancellor and Professor of Higher Education at UCSB in 1967.
He moved to UC Berkeley as the Vice President for Public Service Programs and University Dean of University Extension for UC Berkeley in 1971, then became the Vice President for Extended Academic and Public Service Programs in the Office of the President (UC system wide) in 1972.
His wife Libby was named Associate to the President, and he worked with her closely.