Robert S. Gardner has been a teacher, administrator, and an advocate for education during his entire professional life. He is a graduate of Wilkes University, earning a B.A. in history and an M.S. in history/education and the Ed.D. in educational administration at Temple University. After a career as a social studies teacher, he was appointed high school principal and later superintendent of schools at Northwest Area School District. Dr. Gardner has also served as an adjunct education instructor at Wilkes University for a number of years.

Dr. Gardner is married to Dr. Judith A. Gardner who teaches as an adjunct instructor in the Wilkes undergraduate education department. In addition he has a daughter Nicole who is an attorney in Charlotte, NC with three children and a stepson J.J. who is a physician/researcher at the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Gardner is also a saxophonist who enjoys jazz.