Retiring professor shares Santa's secrets with grads

While delivering the commencement address at the ceremony for CSC's graduate students, Gardener presented concepts from "The Leadership Secrets of Santa Claus," a 2003 book authored by Eric Harvey, David Cottrell, Al Lucia and Mike Hourigan.

Throughout the 13-minute presentation, Gardener told stories of Santa Claus and his dealings with the North Pole staff, including reindeer and elves.

Gardener said the message was appropriate for the graduates, who will be called upon for guidance as they enter the workforce with their master's and specialist's degrees. Of CSC's 295 graduates, 52 received graduate degrees.

"Whether your degree is in business, counseling, education or organizational management, you will be asked to be a leader in your organization," he said.

The seven tips Gardener shared were to develop a vision for yourself and your organization, focus on your people as well as on your purpose, help everyone accept the reality of change, hire the right people for the right reasons, let values be your guide, listen to your staff, "and last, and probably most important, as Santa said, share the milk and cookies."

Since coming to CSC in 1990, Gardener has taught a majority of the courses offered by the Education Department. He also served as chairman of the college's Education Department from 1994 through 2002.

Gardener has completed much research about rural education, and became an advocate for the retention and advancement of schools in rural America. In 1995, he established the Panhandle Center for Rural and Small School Education and became its director.

In 2004, Gardener was elected to the executive committee of the National Rural Education Association and served in that capacity three years. During the association's convention in 2006, Clark was presented a plaque recognizing his "outstanding leadership and service in rural education."