UM-Flint Chancellor Laurence B. Alexander inducted into Tulane Law Hall of Fame

In a career built on making the case for access, opportunity and student success, Laurence B. Alexander has earned a new distinction: induction into Tulane University Law School's Hall of Fame.

The University of Michigan-Flint chancellor was one of four alumni selected for the 2026 honor, which celebrates graduates "whose careers exemplify professional excellence, integrity and service to the legal profession and their communities." He and the rest of the HOF Class of 2026 were formally recognized on May 6 in New Orleans.

"Chancellor Alexander's induction into the Tulane Law Hall of Fame reflects a career defined by leadership, integrity and an unwavering commitment to expanding opportunity through education," said Marcilynn Burke, Tulane Law dean. "His work across higher education and public service demonstrates the breadth of his impact. We are proud to honor him as a distinguished alumnus whose contributions continue to shape institutions and communities alike."

Alexander has spent decades at the intersection of law, communications and higher education leadership. At UM-Flint, his tenure has included sustained enrollment growth, strategic academic expansion and a sharpened focus on student success and regional impact. Since arriving at the downtown campus in July 2024, he has also emphasized strengthening partnerships that connect the university to industry, community organizations and civic life across the region. 

Before arriving at UM-Flint, Alexander served 11 years as chancellor of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, a historically Black land-grant university within the University of Arkansas System.  

In 2022, President Biden appointed Alexander chair of the Board for International Food and Agricultural Development, an advisory board supporting the U.S. Agency for International Development. During his tenure from 2022 to 2025, he helped advance international efforts focused on food security and agricultural development. Earlier in his career, Alexander spent more than two decades at the University of Florida, where he held several academic leadership roles and earned recognition for his scholarship on media law and freedom of expression.  

The Tulane Law HOF distinction places Alexander among a select group of alumni whose influence extends well beyond the legal field, highlighting the broader role legal education can play in shaping institutional and civic leadership.

"This recognition from Tulane Law is deeply meaningful," Alexander said. "My experience there helped shape how I think about leadership, service and the responsibility that comes with both. To be included among alums who have made such meaningful contributions is truly humbling.

"I've always believed that education and the law can open doors and create opportunity. I'm grateful to Tulane for laying that foundation and proud to carry those lessons forward in my work today."