Rate My Professor M. David Alexander

M. David Alexander is a professor in the Educational Leadership and Policy Studies program in the School of Education at Virginia Tech, where he has been on the faculty since 1972. Previously, he served as head of the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. He earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and business administration from Western Kentucky State College, a master’s degree in educational administration from Western Kentucky University, and a doctorate in educational administration from Indiana University. Alexander is an internationally renowned scholar of school law, finance, and school board policy. His research specializations include school law, finance, and policy, with contributions to educational leadership through extensive scholarship and mentorship of graduate students.

Alexander has authored and co-authored key publications that have shaped the field, including American Public School Law with Kern Alexander, The Law of Schools, Students and Teachers in a Nutshell, 7th Edition, and University Law published in 2020 with Kern Alexander and Klinton Alexander. His impactful work earned him the 2022 Creighton Publication Innovation Award from the International Council of Professors of Educational Leadership for his record of publications in major journals, support for early-career scholars, and addressing PK-12 school administration issues. Other honors include the 2009 Virginia Tech Alumni Award for Excellence in International Outreach, recognizing his global contributions through outreach programs, curriculum development, research, and conferences in countries such as Iran, China, England, Russia, Czech Republic, Poland, Germany, the Netherlands, Ukraine, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, and the 2019 Senior Scholar Award from the Eastern Educational Research Association. Beginning in 1977, he co-designed a master’s program in educational leadership in Shiraz, Iran, collaborated with the University of Oxford on UK reforms, and initiated international conferences fostering U.S.-international educator partnerships.