Bob Alexander (East Lansing, MI)
Encyclopedia
Robert "Bob" Darwood Alexander (born October 31, 1944) is a public policy advocate from East Lansing Michigan
. He was a Democratic
candidate for Michigan's 8th Congressional District
in 2008.
on October 31, 1944, the son of Robert and Dorothy Alexander, and grew up in Berkley, Michigan
.
In 1966, Bob Alexander received a Bachelor of Arts in American History from the University of Michigan
. After graduating Bob joined the Peace Corps
and decided to serve his nation in a peaceful and constructive way in an intensive agricultural program in India
. Alexander's work with the Peace Corps profoundly influenced him, and ignited his career as an organizer and coalition builder to improve the lives of people.
In 1968, Alexander joined the National Teachers Corps
as an Intern and then as a Teacher at the Hopkinsville
Junior High in Kentucky
, and Webster Elementary and Earhart Junior High in Southwest Detroit. In 1970, Bob earned his Master of Arts in Teaching from Wayne State University
. In 1971, he substituted in Whitmore Lake
, Hamburg and Pinckney
Schools. From 1973 to 1978, he taught in the Willow Run Community Schools in Ypsilanti, Michigan
.
In 1979, Bob Alexander started working for State Senators Edward Pierce
and then Lana Pollack
in Lansing, Michigan. Alexander was a Policy Analyst for the state Energy Services and Medicaid programs. He was also the Project Officer of 16 Medicaid Demonstration Projects that expanded access to care, increased available programs, and reduced financial waste.
and Lansing
area Schools. He has worked to extend The Ingham Health Plan to 16,500 of the 31,000 Ingham county residents who did not have health care.
In 2004, Alexander unsuccessfully ran against Mike Rogers.
In 2006, Alexander co-directed a local petition drive that helped raise Michigan's Minimum Wage by 29%.
Currently, Alexander owns and runs Alexander Consultants, LLC, a governmental and business management consulting firm in East Lansing, Michigan.
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. He was a Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
candidate for Michigan's 8th Congressional District
Michigan's 8th congressional district
Michigan's 8th congressional district is a United States congressional district in Southern Michigan and Southeast Michigan. It consists of all of Clinton, Ingham, and Livingston counties, and includes the southern portion of Shiawassee and the northern portion of Oakland counties.The district was...
in 2008.
Early life
Robert (Bob) Alexander was born in Nashville, TennesseeNashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
on October 31, 1944, the son of Robert and Dorothy Alexander, and grew up in Berkley, Michigan
Berkley, Michigan
Berkley is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is an inner suburb of Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the total population was 14,970.-Downtown, Dream Cruise, etc.:...
.
In 1966, Bob Alexander received a Bachelor of Arts in American History from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
. After graduating Bob joined the Peace Corps
Peace Corps
The Peace Corps is an American volunteer program run by the United States Government, as well as a government agency of the same name. The mission of the Peace Corps includes three goals: providing technical assistance, helping people outside the United States to understand US culture, and helping...
and decided to serve his nation in a peaceful and constructive way in an intensive agricultural program in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Alexander's work with the Peace Corps profoundly influenced him, and ignited his career as an organizer and coalition builder to improve the lives of people.
In 1968, Alexander joined the National Teachers Corps
National Teachers Corps
Teacher Corps was a program established by the United States Congress in the Higher Education Act of 1965 to improve elementary and secondary teaching in predominantly low-income areas. Individual Teacher Corps projects were developed by "institutions of higher education" in partnership with...
as an Intern and then as a Teacher at the Hopkinsville
Hopkinsville, Kentucky
Hopkinsville is a city in Christian County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 31,577 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Christian County.- History :...
Junior High in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, and Webster Elementary and Earhart Junior High in Southwest Detroit. In 1970, Bob earned his Master of Arts in Teaching from Wayne State University
Wayne State University
Wayne State University is a public research university located in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in the city's Midtown Cultural Center Historic District. Founded in 1868, WSU consists of 13 schools and colleges offering more than 400 major subject areas to over 32,000 graduate and...
. In 1971, he substituted in Whitmore Lake
Whitmore Lake, Michigan
Whitmore Lake is an unincorporated community in the U.S. state of Michigan. The community spans the boundary between Green Oak Township in Livingston County and Northfield Township in Washtenaw County. The United States Census Bureau has defined a census-designated place with this name for...
, Hamburg and Pinckney
Pinckney, Michigan
Pinckney is a village in Putnam Township, Livingston County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,141 at the 2000 census.Three miles west of Pinckney, on Patterson Lake Road, is the famous tourist destination of Hell, Michigan.-Geography:...
Schools. From 1973 to 1978, he taught in the Willow Run Community Schools in Ypsilanti, Michigan
Ypsilanti, Michigan
Ypsilanti is a city in Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 22,362. The city is bounded to the north by the Charter Township of Superior and on the west, south, and east by the Charter Township of Ypsilanti...
.
In 1979, Bob Alexander started working for State Senators Edward Pierce
Edward C. Pierce
Edward Charles Pierce was a politician and physician from the U.S. state of Michigan.-Biography:Pierce was born in the town of Three Rivers, in St. Joseph County, Michigan. He moved with his family to Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1940 at the age of ten and, after serving in the U.S. Air Force, studied...
and then Lana Pollack
Michigan Women's Hall of Fame
The Michigan Women's Hall of Fame honors distinguished women, both historical and contemporary, who have been associated with the U.S. state of Michigan. It is housed in the Michigan Women's Historical Center and Hall of Fame building, located at 213 W. Malcolm X St. in downtown Lansing, Michigan...
in Lansing, Michigan. Alexander was a Policy Analyst for the state Energy Services and Medicaid programs. He was also the Project Officer of 16 Medicaid Demonstration Projects that expanded access to care, increased available programs, and reduced financial waste.
Current
In 2000, Alexander became Assistant to the Director of Citizens for Better Care, advocating for Nursing Home residents. In 2003, he taught at Davenport UniversityDavenport University
Davenport University is a private, non-profit, multi-location university located at 14 campuses throughout Michigan and online. It was founded in 1866 by Conrad Swensburg and currently offers Master's Degrees, Bachelor's Degrees, Associate's Degrees, diplomas, and post-grad certification programs...
and Lansing
Lansing, Michigan
Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan...
area Schools. He has worked to extend The Ingham Health Plan to 16,500 of the 31,000 Ingham county residents who did not have health care.
In 2004, Alexander unsuccessfully ran against Mike Rogers.
In 2006, Alexander co-directed a local petition drive that helped raise Michigan's Minimum Wage by 29%.
Currently, Alexander owns and runs Alexander Consultants, LLC, a governmental and business management consulting firm in East Lansing, Michigan.