Marielle Gardner grew up in Richmond, CA and attended St. Mary’s College High School in Berkeley, CA. While there she participated in musical theater. For college, she stayed nearby and went to St. Mary’s College of CA in Moraga. She completed a BA in Liberal Arts based on the Great Books Program and a minor in mathematics. Her first job in college was at the STEM tutoring center. She participated competitively in debate and graduated top of her class.
She moved out to the Midwest to pursue graduate school in Mathematics. She received a Post-Baccalaureate Degree in Mathematics at Iowa State University. Here in the Kansas City area, she is still connected to the debate community. She spends her free time playing board games or hanging with her puppy.