Will Winton Alexander (1884–1956) was chief executive officer of the

Commission on Interracial Cooperation The Commission on Interracial Cooperation (1918–1944) was an organization founded in Atlanta, Georgia, December 18, 1918, and officially incorporated in 1929. Will W. Alexander, pastor of a local white Methodist church, was head of the organizatio ...

(CIC) as well as the first president of

Dillard University Dillard University is a private, historically black university in New Orleans, Louisiana. Founded in 1930 and incorporating earlier institutions founded as early as 1869 after the American Civil War, it is affiliated with the United Church of Ch ...

Early life and education

Alexander was born in Marrisville, Missouri in 1884. He attended

Vanderbilt University Vanderbilt University (informally Vandy or VU) is a private research university in Nashville, Tennessee. Founded in 1873, it was named in honor of shipping and rail magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided the school its initial $1-million ...

Career

He served as Executive Secretary Army Y.M.C.A. Southeastern Military Department from 1917 to 1919. He served as the Executive Director of the Commission on Interracial Cooperation from 1919 to 1930. Alexander originally had no desire to become a college president; he was deeply committed to the CIC. However, he was persuaded to become acting president "during the preliminary stages of its development", and served in 1935–36. In 1926 he was the first ever winner of the prestigious Gold medal for distinguished achievements in race relations of the Harmon Foundation awards.Dykeman, pp. 162–3.

Notes

References

* Dykeman, Wilma (1976). ''Seeds Of Southern Change: The Life Of Will Alexander.'' W. W. Norton and Company, Inc. * {{DEFAULTSORT:Alexander, Will W. 1884 births 1956 deaths Vanderbilt University alumni Dillard University faculty