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F. King Alexander

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F. King Alexander
Alexander in 2019
15th President of Oregon State University
In office
July 1, 2020 – April 1, 2021
Preceded byEd Ray
Succeeded byJayathi Y. Murthy
26th President of Louisiana State University
In office
July 1, 2013 – December 31, 2019
Preceded byJohn V. Lombardi
Succeeded byThomas C. Galligan Jr. (Interim)
6th President of California State University, Long Beach
In office
January 1, 2006 – June 30, 2013
Preceded byRobert Maxson
Succeeded byJane Close Conoley
10th President of Murray State University
In office
September 2001 – December 2005
Preceded byS. Kern Alexander
Succeeded byRandy J. Dunn
Personal details
BornLouisville, Kentucky, United States
Spouse(s)Elizabeth Williams Alexander (died 2000)
Shenette Campbell Alexander (since 2006)
Children2
Parents
EducationSt. Lawrence University (BA)
University of Oxford (MSc)
University of Wisconsin–Madison (PhD)
Academic background
ThesisAn analysis of the effects of Title IV federal direct student aid policy on public and private institutions of higher education (1996)
Doctoral advisorJulie Underwood

Fieldon King Alexander is an American former university administrator and professor of higher education policy and finance. He was the president of Oregon State University, Louisiana State University, California State University, Long Beach, and Murray State University.

Early life and career

Alexander is an inductee of the Boy's and Girl's Club Hall of Fame.[1]

Alexander received a bachelor's degree in political science from St. Lawrence University.[2] After completing his master's degree at Oxford, Alexander worked as Coordinator of External Programs and then as Director of Annual Giving at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro[2] prior to pursuing his Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

University presidencies

Murray State University

Alexander served as the 10th president of Murray State University in Kentucky from 2001 to 2005, his predecessor being his father Kern Alexander.[3] Murray State's faculty senate passed a resolution condemning the closed process behind his appointment by the university's board of regents, which had named itself as the search committee.[4] As president, Alexander improved the relationship between faculty and the administration and oversaw the construction or renovation of several campus buildings, including the Alexander Hall Education Building and the Susan E. Bauernfeind Student Recreation and Wellness Center.[5][6]

Alexander was invited to testify to the U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness in the 108th Congress in 2003.[7][8]

Alexander was a Foundation Fellow at Harris Manchester College and a faculty affiliate at the University of Illinois and Cornell University.[2]

California State University, Long Beach

Alexander in 2008

F. King Alexander was appointed as president of California State University, Long Beach in 2006.[9] During his time at CSULB, a new $70 million Student Recreation Wellness Center was completed along with a $110 million Hall of Science building.[9] On May 15, 2013, the California Conference for Equality and Justice presented him with the Humanitarian Award.[10] Cal State Long Beach's focus on improving graduation numbers and rates for all student populations, especially from underrepresented populations, gained national attention.[11][12][13] Alexander was an original signatory to the Long Beach College Promise.[14] Alexander was invited to testify to the U.S. House of Representatives hearing on "Barriers to Equal Educational Opportunities: Addressing the Rising Costs of a College Education" (November 1, 2007). The Committee on Education and Labor, U.S. House of Representatives, 110th Congress.[15] For his efforts in supporting students access, success and improved student aid programs, Alexander was selected by the California State University Student Association as California State University President of the Year in 2009–10.[16]

Louisiana State University

With John L. Crain (left), President of Southeastern Louisiana University, Alexander responds to questions about funding for Louisiana's public universities, on a panel hosted by the Greater Hammond Chamber of Commerce during 2015.

It was announced on March 27, 2013, that Alexander would become president of the LSU system and chancellor of Louisiana State University A&M effective July 1, 2013.[17] Some criticism occurred over the way the Louisiana State University Board of Supervisors had conducted its search to fill the position of president of LSU after John V. Lombardi had been fired from it under alleged influence by Governor Bobby Jindal and as Alexander was named the sole finalist for president of LSU.[18] The decision was met with a unanimous vote of no confidence by LSU's faculty senate against the LSU Board of Supervisors, but Board of Supervisors chair Hank Danos asserted that Alexander "was clearly the right guy for LSU."[18] The Faculty Senate's vote of no confidence in Alexander's hiring noted that Alexander had never been a tenured full professor at a major research university and that the graduation rates at CSULB were lower than those at LSU.[19]

Oregon State University

Alexander was elected to become President of Oregon State University on December 13, 2019, by the Oregon State University Board of Trustees.[20] He assumed office on July 1, 2020.[20] He resigned from Oregon State University after just eight months.[21] His resignation followed a vote of no confidence by Oregon State's Faculty Senate and a subsequent statement by Oregon Governor Kate Brown that the Oregon State Board of Trustees needed to "take decisive action to remove" Alexander from the presidency at OSU[22] [23]

Personal life

Alexander's first wife, Elizabeth Williams Alexander, died of breast cancer in 2000.[24] In 2006 he married Shenette (Campbell) Alexander.[25]

Publications

  • Alexander, Kern; Salmon, Richard G.; Alexander, F. King (2015). Financing public schools: theory, policy, and practice. New York: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-64534-8.
  • Alexander, F. King; Ehrenberg, Ronald G., eds. (2003). Maximizing Revenue in Higher Education. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. ISBN 9780787972219.
  • Alexander, Kern; Alexander, F. King, eds. (2002). The University: International Expectations. McGill-Queen's University Press. ISBN 9780773569546.
  • Alexander, F. King; Robertson, Don E., eds. (1998). Residential Colleges: Reforming American Higher Education. Lexington, KY: Oxford International Round Table.

References

  1. ^ "Alumni Hall of Fame". www.bgca.org. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "CSU Trustees Appoint F. King Alexander as the New President of California State University, Long Beach | CSU". calstate.edu. October 27, 2005. Archived from the original on March 22, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  3. ^ "History of the office". www.murraystate.edu. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  4. ^ Sheridan, Edward (October 3, 2001). "Resolutions Pass on New President". Murray Ledger and Times. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  5. ^ "President's Office: History of the Office". www.murraystate.edu. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  6. ^ Taylor, Kristin (October 28, 2005). "University Sets Sights on Filling 'Big Shoes' Left by Alexander". Murray Ledger and Times. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  7. ^ "College Costs | C-SPAN.org". www.c-span.org. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  8. ^ "- THE COLLEGE COST CRISIS REPORT: ARE INSTITUTIONS ACCOUNTABLE ENOUGH TO STUDENTS AND PARENTS?". www.govinfo.gov. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  9. ^ a b "F. King Alexander took Cal State Long Beach to a higher level: Editorial". Press-Telegram. May 21, 2013. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  10. ^ Ballard, Ernie. "Incoming LSU President and Chancellor F. King Alexander Receives Humanitarian Award". Archived from the original on October 13, 2013. Retrieved October 25, 2013.
  11. ^ Dowell, David A. (March 3, 2016). "Highly Valued Degrees at California State University, Long Beach". Change: The Magazine of Higher Learning. 48 (2): 24–31. doi:10.1080/00091383.2016.1163191. ISSN 0009-1383. S2CID 148055507.
  12. ^ "F. King Alexander took Cal State Long Beach to a higher level: Editorial". Press Telegram. May 22, 2013. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  13. ^ Fain, Paul (June 12, 2009). "At Long Beach, Success Is Measured by Degrees". The Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  14. ^ Dean, Dennis (July 16, 2018). "The History And Future Of The Long Beach College Promise". Long Beach Business Journal. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  15. ^ "BARRIERS TO EQUAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES: ADDRESSING THE RISING COSTS OF A COLLEGE EDUCATION". www.govinfo.gov. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  16. ^ "CSU, Alexander pass student loan policy". Daily Forty-Niner. April 26, 2010. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  17. ^ "Cal State Long Beach President F. King Alexander to Become President-Chancellor of the Louisiana State University System" (Press release). California State University, Long Beach. March 27, 2013. Archived from the original on May 9, 2013. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
  18. ^ a b Addo, Koran (March 22, 2013). "Alexander defends record". Advocate. Baton Rouge. pp. 1A, 4A. Retrieved March 22, 2013. The interim president after Lombardi's firing was William Jenkins, who had preceded Lombardi in the position.
  19. ^ "LSU Faculty Senate votes 'no confidence' in board", WWLTV.com, March 20, 2013, http://www.wwltv.com/news/local/199191511.html Archived 2013-12-02 at the Wayback Machine
  20. ^ a b Colbert, Debbie (December 13, 2019). "Special Meeting of the Board of Trustees" (Meeting minutes). The Board of Trustees of Oregon State University, Corvallis OR. Archived 2020-07-01 at the Wayback Machine
  21. ^ Oregonian/OregonLive, Jeff Manning | For The (March 23, 2021). "F. King Alexander resigns as Oregon State president after just eight months". oregonlive. Retrieved June 18, 2025.
  22. ^ Staff, The Athletic (March 23, 2021). "Oregon State President F. King Alexander resigns after backlash over LSU role". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 18, 2025.
  23. ^ "At Oregon State, a President Twists in the Wind". The Chronicle of Higher Education. March 23, 2021. Retrieved June 18, 2025.
  24. ^ Ambrose, Anne (Spring 2006). "CSULB Welcomes President Alexander". The Beach Review. California State University, Long Beach. Archived from the original on September 21, 2012. Retrieved October 30, 2008.
  25. ^ Doug Krikorian, "LBSU Reflects Its President", Long Beach Press Telegram, 13 May 2007
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