John Gardner offers insights into reorganization

John Gardner (Photo by Robert Hubner, WSU Photo Services)
![]() |
Ewing Kauffman |
JG:
That was my first job and it was really a blessing. I worked for Ewing and Muriel Kauffman, at their home estate in Kansas City, from about 14 to 18 years old. Ewing made his fortune in pharmaceuticals, but his true legacy is that he ultimately began what is arguably the world’s leading think tank on entrepreneurship – the Kauffman Foundation.
In hindsight, I have likely underestimated the impression he left upon me; but then, I was at a very impressionable age.


Well, I’ve worked at five land grant universities now. And what I love about that is the mission and focus on public service – providing knowledge, helping people succeed. I take that very seriously.

In looking at it now, I realize it’s kind of a cube concept with Yin-and-Yang forces that lead to the same result.



JG: The key is it needs to be a contemporary design.




And we also help take care of my mother, who unfortunately – as our children are traveling the world – is in the process of leaving the world. She suffers from terrible dementia and just advanced to a new stage of reality.