Thank you Rotarian Elaine Herzog for putting together today's member feature.
Our Rotary Club had the opportunity to hear a snippet of Dr. Jim Alexander’s journey in life during our last meeting. Due to time constraints, he only scratched the surface of his story including his family, education, accomplishments, awards and community service.
I know due to space constraints I won’t be able to cover everything within the five elements of his life I mentioned above. However, I hope to round it out a bit more so we all can “BETTER KNOW A MEMBER” of our Rotary Club and know more about this important and accomplished member of our community.
When he asked his wife what he should share with the club from his personal evolution; academic accomplishments, political accomplishments, community service or family facts and history, Mona responded warmly with FAMILY!!!!
Jim and his lovely bride, Mona, have been married 54 years! She is a graduate of the University of North Texas and a retired Tax Enforcement Officer out of the Comptroller’s office in Austin, Texas. Mona has been his partner and soulmate throughout his career. They are the proud parents of one son, Jason Alexander, a graduate of Ryan High School in Denton. He holds a BBA from the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Public Administration from Texas State University. Currently he is the Chief of Staff for the City of Austin, Texas. Jim and Mona are grandparents to one very smart and handsome grandson, Macklin Fields Alexander. Jim is very proud of his family! So, below we will continue with a recap of his early family life and then move on to an overview of his life in academics, politics and community service.
Jim grew up in Cooke County where his dad and four of his uncles were partners in a family farming and ranching operation that also included a grocery store. Jim never had to look for a summer job or for work after school. Just step out the back door and pick up a shovel, milk a cow, or climb up on the tractor! A strong emphasis was always placed on the values of family and building a strong community. Jim’s dad served on the local school board for many years and was a great mentor. Jim went on to excel in academics, research, publications, and political and community service. Although Jim’s profession took an extremely different path than his father’s Dr. Alexander found work on the farm to be a wonderful experience.
Professor Alexander (named TWU’s Cornaro Professor in 2008 and is also Emeritus Professor of Government) has enjoyed a distinguished career combining roles as professor of political science, academic leader and administrator, and elected public servant. Jim holds several degrees, a Ph.D. from The American University in Washington D.C., a M.A. and a B.A. from Texas A & M University in Commerce Texas, and an A.A. from North Central Texas College in Gainesville, Texas.
Jim has been selected as a National Defense Education Fellow, a Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Fellow, a Malone Fellow and has received various grants in support of his research. He has worked as a Consultant in criminal justice, leadership, and executive development for the states of California, Louisiana, South Carolina, and Texas. In addition, he has worked as an expert witness for several major law firms.
Jim served as Chair of the Department of History and Government at TWU for twenty-three years as well as chairing other boards, commissions, projects and councils. One example is he chaired the North Central Texas Council of Governments’ Law Enforcement Training Committee.
He has served as President in groups, associations and commissions related to law enforcement throughout his life. To name a few: The Association of Texas Law Enforcement Educators, Texas Conference of University Criminal Justice Educators, Texas Association of Criminal Justice Educators and President of the Southwestern Association of Criminal Justice Educators.
Jim was appointed to serve on the Governor’s Criminal Justice Advisory Council. He has presented testimony on various matters of public policy before committees of both houses of the Texas Legislature as well as both houses of the United States Congress.
Dr. Alexander has written and published several articles and book reviews in the field of criminal justice, and he has made numerous presentations at state, regional, national, and international professional meetings. He continues as Director of the Law Enforcement Management Institute at TWU.
He began his career in public service with his election to the Denton City Council in 1986. He is completing his 30th year as a member of the Denton ISD Board of Trustees. Jim was a member of the North Central Texas Regional Transportation Council; he served on the Executive Board of the North Central Texas Council of Governments (representing over two hundred member governments in sixteen counties with a combined population of six million people) and he served as a member of the Leadership TASB class (a leadership development program of the Texas Association of School Boards).
Jim first became a Rotarian in 1974 in the Rotary Club of Wichita Falls, Texas. He transferred his membership to the Denton Rotary Club in 1980. He has served on the Board of Directors for both clubs. Jim serves well….over the past 49 years as a Rotarian he has participated in MANY opportunities to help our community locally and abroad. Our club has benefitted from his membership as well as the community. He shares a smile and a good word with everyone; especially other Rotarians. He is a kind and dedicated husband, father and grandfather. We can all be proud to be fellow Rotarians of Dr. Jim Alexander, believing in all five (5) points of the Four (4) Way Test!!