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Headshot of Darryl Gardner

Dr. Darryl Gardner

Wayne State University
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Dr. Darryl Gardner serves as Vice Provost for Student Success, Support, and Engagement at Wayne State University. Gardner is responsible for providing strategic oversight to a comprehensive suite of services, programs, and units – each designed to enhance various aspects of the student experience. These include the University Advising Center, Academic Success Center, College Transition Initiatives and First-Year Experience, Student Disability Services, Housing and Residential Life, Dean of Students Office, Student Auxiliary Services, Campus Reservations, Gadson Office for Military and Veterans Academic Excellence, Warrior 360, Federal TRIO Programs, Learning Communities, Warrior Way Back and several other student-facing programs and services. Additionally, he oversees K-12 and Precollege initiatives. 

Gardner has served as a strategic lead for retention and graduation since joining the Division of Academic Affairs in 2019. With Gardner’s vision and leadership, Wayne State has achieved record-high four and six-year graduation rates and first-to-second year retention rates of 80% or higher for six consecutive years. This work has been nationally recognized as a model for student success innovation and transformation. Moreover, Gardner has played a key role in launching the next phase of the university’s strategic retention efforts, Student Success 2.0: Every Warrior Rises, and was the visionary behind the establishment of the Student Success HUB. 

Dr. Gardner previously served as teaching faculty and director of the Emerging & Rising Scholars programs in the Department of Mathematics at Wayne State. He also served as the dean of students for the nationally recognized Math Corps program and led the national expansion efforts in Philadelphia, PA — in partnership with Drexel University. His efforts have expanded globally, and he was honored with the 2019 CEMATHS Award for his work and advocacy for mathematics literacy in Ghana. He is also an alum of the prestigious Leadership Detroit program and recipient of the Michigan Chronicle’s 2025 Men of Excellence Award. 

A proud lifelong Detroiter, Gardner is deeply committed to youth development and community wellness. He is the co-founder of City Glow Yoga, an initiative that brings wellness experiences to Detroit neighborhoods, and serves as board chair for Orchards Children’s Services.