Board of Directors

Dr. Darryl Gardner serves as Vice Provost for Student Success, Support, and Engagement at Wayne State University. Gardner is responsible for providing strategic oversight to a comprehensive suite of services, programs, and units – each designed to enhance various aspects of the student experience. These include the University Advising Center, Academic Success Center, College Transition Initiatives and First-Year Experience, Student Disability Services, Housing and Residential Life, Dean of Students Office, Student Auxiliary Services, Campus Reservations, Gadson Office for Military and Veterans Academic Excellence, Warrior 360, Federal TRIO Programs, Learning Communities, Warrior Way Back and several other student-facing programs and services. Additionally, he oversees K-12 and Precollege initiatives. 

Gardner has served as a strategic lead for retention and graduation since joining the Division of Academic Affairs in 2019. With Gardner’s vision and leadership, Wayne State has achieved record-high four and six-year graduation rates and first-to-second year retention rates of 80% or higher for six consecutive years. This work has been nationally recognized as a model for student success innovation and transformation. Moreover, Gardner has played a key role in launching the next phase of the university’s strategic retention efforts, Student Success 2.0: Every Warrior Rises, and was the visionary behind the establishment of the Student Success HUB. 

Dr. Gardner previously served as teaching faculty and director of the Emerging & Rising Scholars programs in the Department of Mathematics at Wayne State. He also served as the dean of students for the nationally recognized Math Corps program and led the national expansion efforts in Philadelphia, PA — in partnership with Drexel University. His efforts have expanded globally, and he was honored with the 2019 CEMATHS Award for his work and advocacy for mathematics literacy in Ghana. He is also an alum of the prestigious Leadership Detroit program and recipient of the Michigan Chronicle’s 2025 Men of Excellence Award. 

A proud lifelong Detroiter, Gardner is deeply committed to youth development and community wellness. He is the co-founder of City Glow Yoga, an initiative that brings wellness experiences to Detroit neighborhoods, and serves as board chair for Orchards Children’s Services. 

Michael’s career extends 40 years in the financial services industry and specifically in the Risk Management space. During his career he worked for multiple Fortune 500 global insurers, the most recent being Chubb Group of Insurance Companies. His professional career includes several senior leadership and strategic development roles in claims, commercial underwriting, Human Resources, marketing and most recently Vice President- Executive in charge of branch operations for the State of Michigan. He led one of the largest staff in the Midwest region, was responsible for the P&L for a portfolio more than 350 million and serviced nearly 10,000 policyholders. Additionally, he was responsible for Talent Management, Territory growth, marketing strategy and Branch services. He led and served on several corporate Talent Management and Diversity specific strategic committees. His relationship with Orchards is approximately 13 yrs. where he has been a board member, officer and the board chair.

Jonathan LoPatin is a construction management professional. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications as well as a Master of Science degree in Construction Management from Michigan State University. Jonathan’s volunteer work with the Detroit chapter of the NCJW introduced him to Orchard’s. He was immediately amazed by their mission and the people behind it, and is thrilled at the opportunity to be a part of it. Jonathan lives in Clawson, MI with his wife Samantha Joustra. In their spare time,  they love checking out all of the food, arts, and culture in the metro Detroit area. 

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Jerold Hawkins is a Orchard’s Children Services alum and proud U.S. Army veteran with more than 18 years of progressive corporate experience spanning multiple interconnected business disciplines, including Supply Chain Management, Purchasing, IT, Finance, and Manufacturing Excellence. He has held leadership roles at globally recognized companies such as AT&T, Ford Motor Company, and General Motors. 

Currently, Mr. Hawkins serves as the Senior Director of Global Supply Chain Management at Aptiv, where he drives strategic sourcing and operational excellence across the region. 

Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Mr. Hawkins holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Corporate Communications from Oakland University. Beyond his professional achievements, he is deeply committed to family life and is the proud father of two daughters, ages 14 and 13! 

I became involved with Orchards through my membership in National Council of Jewish Women, Michigan. I have a Masters in Social Service Administration from Case Western Reserve University and worked as a pediatric medical social worker. I’ve been married to Mark for 44 years. We have 3 children and 2 grandaughters.

I’m proud to serve on the Orchards Board as the NCJW | MI representative.

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