Rob Alexander, Tulane College, class of 1999

Rob Alexander went to college and never left. He graduated Tulane with a B.S. in Psychology, stayed at Tulane for his M.B.A., and then worked in the Tulane alumni office through 2007. After that he worked for the University of the Pacific, and currently works for Millsaps College. While completing his years at Tulane, Alexander took made Tulane home.

Thrilled by the 1999 Tulane football season’s undefeated record Alexander and some friends stormed the field after the final game. However, not many other people stormed the field, and he and his friends were put in holding cells of the Superdome, only to be saved by recently appointed President Cowen. This season Alexander went to the opening game in Yulman stadium to show his continued Tulane pride.

Alexander’s favorite Tulane tradition also occurred in the Superdome: graduation. Although his scheduled convocation speaker, Linda Boggs of Boggs Center fame, wasn’t able to make it, he still had a great time at his graduation and all the others he went to, as a volunteer or graduation graduate student.

As an undergrad, Alexander worked for the Riley Center, enjoyed his time at the Tulane Martial Arts club among other club sports, and was President of the Club Sports Association, which led to his involvement in student government. One of his favorite places to go was the Columns Hotel, a spot still frequented by Tulane students, however some current Tulane favorites were just starting when Alexander lived here, like Jacques Imo’s and Ninja Sushi on Oak.

Another difference between Tulane now and Tulane a decade and a half ago is the way housing preferences worked. In Alexander’s days, housing was decided by how many people organized themselves to live together. That’s the way Alexander and his friends were able to all live together on a whole floor of the newly renovated Paterson House

After graduation from Tulane both times, Alexander worked in admissions office before, during, and after Hurricane Katrina. He considers this time like working for three different institutions. He and his team were the first to have a working phone number post-Katrina and worked to transform Tulane into the nationally known university it is today.

For his school spirit, through his multiple degrees, and with his years devoted to the school, Rob Alexander shows what it means to be a Tulanian.

[Editor’s Note: This article was captured as part of the class “Media Histories” taught by Vicki Mayer in collaboration with the Office of Alumni Affairs at Tulane University. The piece was originally published on November 4, 2014.]