Alexander One of NCAA's "100 Most Influential Student-Athletes"

Alpha Alexander starred for Wooster's basketball team in the 1970s, and has since, become a national leader for "greater accessibility and ethnic diversity."

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Alpha A. Alexander, a 1976 graduate of The College of Wooster, was recently selected by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as one of its “100 Most Influential Student-Athletes,” a highly-prestigious list which is part of the year-long NCAA Centennial Celebration (1906-2006).

Alexander is among a “Who’s Who” of American icons, including professional athletes (Arthur Ashe, Larry Bird, Mia Hamm, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Billy Jean King, Walter Payton, Jerry Rice, Annika Sorenstam, Tiger Woods), coaching greats (Red Auerbach, Vince Lombardi, Mike Krzyzewski, Eddie Robinson, Dean Smith, Pat Summitt, John Wooden), Olympic standouts (Jackie Joyner Kersee, Jesse Owens, Wilma Rudolph) and political dignitaries (Madeline Albright, Kofi Annan, George H. W. Bush, Dwight Eisenhower, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan), all of whom “have made a significant impact or major contributions to society,” according to the NCAA’s definition of its list.

“I’d have to say that I’m very honored,” said Alexander via telephone from her office at Lane College in Jackson, Tenn., where she’s currently an associate professor as well as the school’s chair of the department of physical education, faculty-athletics representative, and head women’s tennis coach. “To be on there with those names … I’m sort of speechless.”

Alexander has been a leader for “greater accessibility and ethnic diversity,” as stated in a Lady Foot Locker advertisement featuring her in 1995, throughout her professional career. In addition to her duties at Lane, Alexander’s also the vice president for the Black Women in Sport Foundation, which she co-founded in 1992 and seeks to expose African-American girls to non-traditional sports, such as lacrosse, golf, tennis, and fencing. She serves on several boards, including the Peter Westbrook Foundation and the Wendy Hilliard Foundation, both of which are based in New York City and aim to get inner-city youth involved in fencing and gymnastics, respectively.

Prior to her current activities, Alexander was the Executive Director for Knoxville’s Promise, an affiliate of America’s Promise, the national organization formed by Colin Powell; director of sports and health advocacy of the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), and special assistant to the chief executive officer of that organization from 1990 to 2000; health and wellness director at the YWCA of San Francisco (1985-87); education officer and then director of community projects for the Women’s Sport Foundation (1983-85); and acting women’s athletic director at Temple University from 1981-83.

Alexander has also worked closely with the United States Olympic Committee for over a decade, including serving on the board of directors, and held a leadership role with the Arthur Ashe Athletic Association.

Numerous awards have come her way, highlighted by being an NCAA Silver Anniversary recipient in 2000, the 1999 Nell Jackson Award, the 1997 Women’s Sport Foundation Billie Jean King Contribution Award, the 1996 Olympic Shield Award (second female recipient in history), and the National Organization for Women’s 1993 New York City Susan B. Anthony Award.

Alexander contends that had it not been for Wooster, she might not have gone down this remarkable career path.

“If you think back on it, Wooster has always been a leader in sports. When I entered in 1972, that was the first year that Title IX was introduced as a federal law. Wooster was ahead of Title IX … Wooster already had (numerous) varsity sports for women, so I give credit to the College.”

Alexander came to Wooster from Jefferson High School in Dayton, Ohio, where she did not compete in sports because the school only had a track & field team for girls at the time. She stepped right in with the Scotties, though, excelling in basketball and volleyball, while also playing tennis and one year of lacrosse. A leader back then as well, Alexander was president of the Women’s Athletic Association, a resident assistant, member of the Black Students Association, and helped to develop Wooster’s women’s track & field program. For her efforts, she was inducted into the “W” Association Hall of Fame in 1993.

Following her time at Wooster, Alexander went on to earn a master’s degree in physical education at Temple as well as a doctorate from Temple at the age of 26.

Alexander and the other 99 honorees will be featured on two one-hour programs, counting down the “100 Most Influential Student-Athletes” from 100-to-51 and then 50-to-1. The initial broadcast will be on ESPN Classic Monday, March 13, at 8 p.m., followed by several re-airings on ESPNU, including Tuesday and Wednesday, March 14-15, at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m., respectively.