Rate My Professor Robert Alexander

Robert W. Alexander is an Associate Professor of Political Science at James Madison University (JMU), a position he has held since 2011. He concurrently serves as Co-Director of the Institute for Constructive Advocacy and Dialogue (ICAD) since 2014, Internship Coordinator, and Coordinator of the Environmental Studies Minor since 2017. Previously, he was a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of Science, Technology, Society, and Public Policy at Rochester Institute of Technology from 2009 to 2011. Prior to his academic career, Alexander spent fifteen years working as an environmental educator and nonprofit executive. His academic background includes a B.S. in Geology from Duke University (1993), dual master's degrees in Public Administration (M.P.A.) and Environmental Science (M.S.) from Indiana University–Bloomington (1998), and a Ph.D. in Public Administration from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University (2011).

Alexander's research focuses on environmental policy and governance, collaborative public management, brownfield cleanup and redevelopment, deliberative democracy, public dialogue, sustainability culture, and network structures in public-private partnerships. Notable publications include "Urban Rewilding Through a Modified Placemaking Lens: A Teaching and Learning Journey" with Henry Way (2022, Routledge); "Exploring Personal Definitions of Sustainability and Their Impact on Perceptions of Sustainability Culture" with Jessica Jacovidis and Deborah Sturm (2021, International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education); "Crossing Boundaries to Bridge a Life’s Work: From IGR to Complex Network Management" (2018, Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory); "Policy Instruments and the Remediation and Redevelopment of Contaminated Properties" (2015, Environmental Politics); and "Network Structures and the Performance of Brownfield Redevelopment PPPs" (2012, Public Performance & Management Review). He has received awards such as the Provost Award for Excellence in Academic Department Advising (2017), NACADA Certificate of Merit for Outstanding Advising (2018), and multiple research grants including the EU/US Project TRACK-STAR Grant (2021) and Kettering Foundation Research Grant (2015). Alexander contributes to public service through roles on the Commonwealth of Virginia Plastic Waste Reduction Advisory Council (since 2021) and the City of Harrisonburg Stormwater Advisory Committee (since 2017).