Antonio J. Gardner is an Associate Professor in the Department of Community Medicine and Population Health and Director of Education and Evaluation for Rural Programs at The University of Alabama. He was previously an associate professor in the Department of Food Science, Nutrition & Health Promotion at Mississippi State University.  He was most recently the Trustee for Membership & Leadership within SOPHE and developed the LEAD Fellowship Program for the organization.

He has also served on the Membership Committee and the Resource Development Committee, as well as serving as the chair of the Nominations Committee. He was a member of the HEAR Task Force and served as the Liaison to the Membership Committee for the HBCU Advisory Council.