Dr. Wayne Gardner

William Wayne Gardner

President, Toccoa Falls College

Wayne was born and raised in Northwest Georgia in the small town of Trion. He began his educational career at Southern Technical College studying textile engineering. Sensing the call of God on his life he transferred to Toccoa Falls College in 1966 and graduated in 1969 with a B.S. in Missions. He graduated from Luther Rice in 1985 with a Masters of Divinity and from Alliance Theological Seminary with a Masters of Professional Studies (MPS) degree in 1986. He served as a pastor in the Christian and Missionary Alliance and was ordained in 1971. He has been an official worker with the Christian and Missionary Alliance for almost 40 years.

Wayne joined World Vision International in 1975 and for almost nine years served as the Southeast Regional Director traveling both nationally and internationally. Internationally he traveled to Thailand, Japan, Korea, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Australia, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, Costa Rica and other Central American Countries. He has also been to several African countries and Israel and Jordan. His travels continue to provide international opportunities including Cambodia and Israel this year. He has a desire to meet the needs of hurting people worldwide as well as in the United States.

Wayne began his career at Toccoa Falls College in 1983 and in 1988 was appointed Vice President for Institutional Advancement. In 2001 he was appointed the Executive Vice President for Toccoa Falls College and in 2003 became the CEO. He was elected President on
September 9, 2004. He was re-elected to a second term in April, 2007.

He has served his community by being the founding President of the Boys and Girls Club of Northeast Georgia, a member of the Rotary Club, and is on the board of directors with the Chamber of Commerce. He has served with other local agencies over the past several years. He has served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Christian and Missionary Alliance Denomination. He also serves as the Corporate Secretary of the denomination’s South Atlantic District.

He serves on the Communications Committee of the Association for Biblical Higher Education and is a member of the Toccoa Rotary Club. He is also a member of committees with the Georgia Foundation of Independent Colleges and has served on the 2009 Program Committee for the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities President’s meeting.

He has been named in several Who’s Who publications as well as being chosen the Alumnus of the Year for Toccoa Falls College in 1980. He has served for two years on the National Nomination Committee for Outstanding Young Men in America. He also served as President of the Alumni Association from 1977 – 1980. He has also received several honors and awards. He and his wife were also members of the Advanced Leadership Toccoa/Stephens County in 2002.
He has two Master’s degrees and received certification as a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) by the National Society of Fund Raising Executives in 1989 and has been recertified every three years since that time.

He likes to travel and enjoys hiking, golfing, and other outdoor sports. He is an Eagle Scout and as an Explorer Post Leader led a group of scouts to Philmont Scout Ranch on a ten day experience.
His wife Donna is a full professor and School Director of the School of Teacher Education at Toccoa Falls College. He and his wife have three married daughters, Julie, Suzanne, and Michelle. They also have six grandchildren, Alexander, Olivia, Kassidy, Emily, Nichole and Jonathan.

B.S., Missions, Toccoa Falls College; Drew University
M.Div., Luther Rice
M.P.S, Alliance Theological Seminary
D.D, Toccoa Falls College