Dr. Alexander earned four degrees from The Ohio State University: BS (1974), OD (1976), MS (1977) and PhD (1979). He taught expanded curricular and continuing education courses in pharmacology and ocular disease at the College of Optometry during the 1980s and 1990s and helped Ohio optometrists win the right to use Diagnostic Pharmaceutical Agents (1984) and Therapeutic Pharmaceutical Agents (1992). After establishing a private practice in Columbus, he served as the first Center Director and Residency Director at The Eye Center of Toledo. In 1995, he completed a fellowship in vitreoretinal disease at Retina Vitreous Associates in Toledo and served as their center director. In July of 2000, he was named Dean of the Michigan College of Optometry at Ferris State University College of Optometry. Dr. Alexander has been recognized many times for his outstanding contributions to Ohio State and to the profession. He received The Ohio State University Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching in 1980; the Ohio Optometric Association’s Warren G. and Ruth P. Morris Optometrist of the Year award in 1989; became a Distinguished Practitioner in the National Academies of Practice in 2000; received The Ohio State University College of Optometry H. Ward Ewalt Medal for Distinguished Service in 2007; and, in 2012, was inducted into the National Optometry Hall of Fame. He served as President of the Ohio Optometric Association in 1995-96; President of the American Optometric Association in 2007–08; President of the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry in 2011-12. In 2008, Dr. Alexander was named the seventh president of the Southern California College of Optometry (SCCO) in Fullerton, California, and, in April, 2013, he became the founding President of Marshall B. Ketchum University in Fullerton, California, leading SCCO’s development into an interdisciplinary health care university
