Wil Alexander retires, receives award
 B. Lyn Behrens, MBBS (left), presents Wil Alexander, PhD, with the LLUAHSC Distinguished Service Award. With Dr. Alexander is his wife, Mary (right). |
A retirement dinner was held for Wil Alexander, PhD, founding director for the Center for Spiritual Life & Wholeness on Tuesday, May 29, in the Wong Kerlee International Conference Center.
Hosting the event was B. Lyn Behrens, MBBS, president and chief executive officer for LLUAHSC, and Richard H. Hart, MD, DrPH, chancellor, LLU.
Dr. Alexander, a native of Boulder, Colorado, was born on October 12, 1921. In 1942, Dr. Alexander entered the U.S. Navy as a chief pharmacist's mate attached to the Marine Air Corps in the Pacific.
At the end of World War II, Dr. Alexander completed his undergraduate education at La Sierra College (now La Sierra University), Riverside, in 1950.
He entered the ministry and was ordained in Lynwood, California, in 1954. From 1954 to 1963, he served on the faculty at Loma Linda as an associate professor of practical theology.
In 1957, Dr. Alexander was granted a master of arts degree from Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan; a doctor of philosophy degree in communication from Michigan State University, East Lansing, in 1962; and a master of theology degree in 1966 from Edinburgh University, Edinburgh, Scotland.
He rejoined the faculty in 1973, and in 1990, was appointed dean of the Faculty of Religion, a position which he held until 1993. From 1993 to 1997, he served as special assistant to the president for spiritual life & wholeness.
In 1997, Dr. Alexander founded and became director of the Center for Spiritual Life & Wholeness.
He has written several books and was recently awarded the Loma Linda University Distinguished Service Award.