Dr. Christina Alexander, Ph.D.
Dr. Christina Alexander, Ph.D., has been a dedicated educator in higher education for over 20 years and currently serves as a Professor of Humanities at St. Petersburg College in St. Petersburg, Florida. Her areas of expertise include leadership, education, and the humanities, and she is deeply committed to fostering critical thinking, cultural awareness, and emotional intelligence among her students. Influenced by remarkable teachers and mentors including an award-winning Hollywood producer who was a family friend Dr. Alexander embraces the philosophy that education is lifelong and that a degree is an enduring asset that no one can take away.
One of Dr. Alexander’s most notable professional achievements came in 2017, when she received recognition from the Eastern Educational Alliance for her research on American students who are also veterans. She had the honor of presenting her findings at the Student Veterans of America Conference, and her research informed institutional changes at St. Petersburg College to enhance outreach and support for student veterans transitioning into higher education. In addition to her research, she has presented at international conferences and holds certifications in Social and Behavioral Responsible Conduct of Research through the CITI Program, demonstrating a commitment to ethical scholarship and academic excellence.
Beyond academia, Dr. Alexander is passionate about the arts, community engagement, and personal creativity. She served as President of the Pinellas Opera League, establishing scholarships for students pursuing operatic voice studies, and continues to support live theater and opera. Outside of her professional work, she writes and performs original songs at open mic events, while embracing a love for nature and the outdoors, valuing time spent connecting with the environment and one’s authentic self. Her career reflects a seamless blend of scholarship, mentorship, leadership, and artistic expression.
• Certificate in French Language and Civilization from Sorbonne University in Paris
• Certificate as a Natural Health Therapist
• Bachelor's in Foreign Language (German and French)
• Barry University - PhD
• Old Dominion University - MA
• Award from the Eastern Educational Alliance for research on American students who are veterans (2017)
• President of homeowners association
• Former President of the Pinellas Opera League
• Founded scholarships for operatic voice students through the Pinellas Opera League
• Bay West Condominium Association
What do you attribute your success to?
I think trying to be authentic and dedicated and committed to providing an excellent experience for my students and a positive learning environment.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received came from an award-winning Hollywood producer who was a neighbor and good friend of my family. When I was an undergraduate wondering what I was going to do once I graduated, like most of our students do, they told me: You can always, always benefit from an education. Learning is lifelong. No matter what happens, you always have your education, always learn, and make sure where you get your degree. That is something that you'll always have, and no one can take away from you.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
It's very rewarding. And you really get to impact and have a meaningful presence in people's lives in a formative way, but it requires, you know, patience and balance and dedication. And it's not really the education, as we know, is not the most well-paid. So, but it's probably the most rewarding.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges is, of course, the advancing technology of AI. We want to have students use AI responsibly. But the challenge is, you know, using AI just to complete your studies, do your homework without, you know, human input. You know, just relying on AI alone, you know, I think it just, it doesn't encourage learning if you just rely too much on AI. I think the challenges are relying too much on technology at the expense of critical thinking.