West Windsor resident Marvin Gardner was sworn in as a member of the state Commission on Higher Education on December 18, just prior to taking his seat for the commission’s first meeting.
Gardner was finally approved by the state Senate after having been nominated by Governor Jon Corzine for the seat in June. Because of summer recess and the gubernatorial election, the Senate vote was postponed. Gardner’s nomination was approved by the Senate judiciary committee and then by the full Senate for a term that expires on June 30, 2014.
Gardner, well-known for his role as the chairman of the township’s Planning Board, will retain his seat on the board as well as on the Mercer County Community College board of trustees. As part of that role, he serves on the operations committee, which develops policy for the college in all areas; the finance committee, which deals with expenditures and tuition fees; and the government, law, and public affairs committee, which is designed to promote the college and deal with governmental agencies that may have jurisdiction with respect to the college.
“I’m remaining on the Board of Trustees for the college,” he said. “I’m not required to resign. In the event something comes up that is relevant to the school or something involving community colleges that would impact Mercer, I would have to recuse myself.”
Gardner has had an extensive career as an attorney, teacher, and even as a public servant. He is a former educator and previously served a governor-appointed role on a state commission in New York. Gardner grew up in New York, where he performed a majority of his government service.
He earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Brooklyn College, of the City University of New York. He also earned his law degree and his master’s of law degree from Brooklyn Law School. He served as the assistant district attorney in New York City and also as counsel to the joint legislative committee on court reorganization in the New York state legislature, where he dealt with the reorganization of the court system.
He was also one of the first non-elected officials to serve on the Planning Board in New York City. Gardner was also appointed by former New York Governor Mario Cuomo to the World Trade Council. Gardner moved to West Windsor in 1999 with his wife, Ellie, to be near his grandchildren, who live with his daughter in Plainsboro.
