Adam Gardiner, a prominent Utah political figure and president of the government relations firm ASG Consulting, walked across the commencement stage at Weber State University this spring — roughly 17 years after first enrolling as a student.
Why It Matters
Gardiner’s story reflects a growing trend of working professionals returning to complete degrees later in life, enabled in part by expanded online degree offerings. Weber State currently provides more than 25 online bachelor’s programs, lowering barriers for students balancing careers and families.
His path also highlights the role university political science programs play in connecting students to real-world civic engagement. Through the Olene S. Walker Institute of Politics & Public Service, directed by WSU professor Leah Murray, 28 students secured political internships during the 2025–26 academic year, with 10 participating during the spring legislative session alone.
What Happened
Gardiner first enrolled at Weber State in 2009, pursuing political science and international studies. Life intervened quickly. He completed a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, then launched a career in politics that eventually overshadowed his academic plans.
By 2016, he had been elected to the Utah House of Representatives for West Jordan’s District 43, becoming the youngest member of the Utah State Legislature at that time. Within three years of his election, he was serving as state director for then-Senator Mitt Romney. Earlier in his career, he managed Rob Bishop’s 2010 congressional campaign in Washington, D.C., and later served as Salt Lake County recorder.
The degree, long deferred, began to feel out of reach. “I resigned myself to never getting my degree, that it was not an option for me, and I was OK with that,” Gardiner said.
It was Murray who pushed him to reconsider. Her straightforward appeal — “Dude, we got to get you graduated” — helped restart the process. Gardiner had also been the recipient of an early push from Murray years ago, when she connected him to an internship with the Utah State Legislature that helped launch his political career.
During the pandemic, Gardiner returned to WSU and carried as many as 18 credits per semester to finish the coursework. He graduated this spring with a bachelor’s degree in political science and a minor in international studies.
By the Numbers
- 2009: Year Gardiner first enrolled at Weber State
- 18 credits per semester: Course load he carried to finish the degree
- 2016: Year he was elected to the Utah House as its youngest member
- 28 students: WSU political internships facilitated by the Walker Institute in 2025–26
- 4 sons: Jaxon (12), Mason (10), Gavin (5), and Ian (3), all present with wife Katie at graduation
Zoom Out
Gardiner’s nonlinear path from campus to the statehouse and back is increasingly common among civic leaders. Across the country, universities have expanded online and hybrid degree options to accommodate professionals who left higher education before finishing. Weber State’s more than 25 online bachelor’s programs place it among Utah institutions actively competing for that demographic.
Utah’s political ecosystem continues to draw young professionals into public service early, sometimes before they complete formal education. Programs like the Walker Institute formalize that pipeline, giving students structured access to legislative and policy environments where careers often begin well before graduation.
What’s Next
Gardiner does not plan to stop at a bachelor’s degree. He is set to enroll at the University of Utah this fall to pursue a Master of Public Administration — adding formal academic credentials to a résumé already built on years of hands-on political experience.
Meanwhile, WSU’s Walker Institute is expected to continue expanding its student internship pipeline. With 10 students placed during the spring 2026 legislative session alone, the program represents one of the more direct links between Utah’s policy landscape and the next generation of civic professionals.