Director of Residence Education and Housing Services at Michigan State University
Helena Gardner is the Director of Residence Education and Housing Services at Michigan State University. An authentic and dedicated student affairs professional, she is committed to fostering lifelong learning experiences and meaningful relationships.
With nearly 25 years of experience in student housing, Helena provides leadership and direction for the daily oversight and operations of the residential experience at MSU. Her career has spanned a diverse range of student populations and institutional settings, including for-profit, non-profit, public, and private institutions. She has extensive experience working with public-private partnerships (P3s), sorority housing, and a variety of residential models, from single-family houses and traditional residence halls to specialized living-learning communities and student apartments.
A strong advocate for academic partnerships, Helena has collaborated closely with residential colleges and living-learning communities to enhance student success. Her passion for co-curricular development has also been evident through her long-standing involvement with ACPA.
Although her professional journey has taken her across the country, Helena proudly considers Detroit, MI, her home. She is also a devoted mother to her amazing son, Antwan, who is well into his collegiate journey. Guided by the philosophy “Be Great,” Helena is deeply passionate about inspiring herself and others to live their best lives.
The Rise of Generation Alpha: From Middle School to Campus
Here's the Story: "Teaching Everyone But Yourself"
Before You Begin: What Every New Student Affairs Graduate Student Should Know
The HSI Movement
Hispanic-Serving Institutions enroll more than 4 million students, yet “serving” has largely meant enrolling. Dr. Gina Ann Garcia and grassroots leader Amber Gonzalez join us to explore what it actually takes to move an institution toward genuine servingness, drawing on Garcia’s new book, The HSI Movement.
A Conversation with Dr. Julie J. Park: Race, Class, Affirmative Action: College Admissions in a New Era
Drawing from her book Race, Class, and Affirmative Action: College Admissions in a New Era, Dr. Park joins us for a timely and thoughtful conversation about the questions that continue to sit at the heart of higher education: Who has access to opportunity? How do race and class influence educational pathways?
