Dr. Joseph W. Alexander, DVM, (1947) is an American

educator A teacher, also called a schoolteacher or formally an educator, is a person who helps students to acquire knowledge, competence, or virtue, via the practice of teaching. ''Informally'' the role of teacher may be taken on by anyone (e.g. w ...

from the

U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its so ...

Oklahoma Oklahoma ( ; Choctaw language, Choctaw: , ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Texas to the south and west, Kansas to the north, Missouri to the northea ...

. He served as the

Oklahoma Secretary of Science and Technology The Oklahoma Secretary of Science and Technology is a member of the Oklahoma Governor's Cabinet. The Secretary is appointed by the Governor, with the consent of the Oklahoma Senate, to serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The Secretary serves as ...

under

Governor of Oklahoma The governor of Oklahoma is the head of government of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor serves as the head of the Oklahoma Executive (government), executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma. The gover ...

Brad Henry Charles Bradford Henry (born July 10, 1963) is an American lawyer and politician who served as the 26th governor of Oklahoma from 2003 to 2011. A Democrat, he previously served in the Oklahoma Senate from 1992 to 2003. As of 2025, he is the last ...

, having been appointed by Henry in 2004 and leaving the post in 2011. In addition to his service to Governor Henry, Alexander is also the President of the

Oklahoma State University Oklahoma State University (informally Oklahoma State or OSU) is a public land-grant research university in Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States. The university was established in 1890 under the legislation of the Morrill Act. Originally known ...

's Center for Innovation and Economic Development.

Early life

Alexander earned by bachelor's degree in animal science from the

University of Arizona The University of Arizona (Arizona, U of A, UArizona, or UA) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Tucson, Arizona, United States. Founded in 1885 by the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislature, it ...

, a doctors degree in

veterinary science Veterinary medicine is the branch of medicine that deals with the prevention, management, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, disorder, and injury in non-human animals. The scope of veterinary medicine is wide, covering all animal species, both ...

from

Colorado State University Colorado State University (Colorado State or CSU) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Fort Collins, Colorado, United States. It is the flagship university of the Colorado State University Syst ...

, and a master's degree in educational administration and supervision from the

University of Tennessee The University of Tennessee, Knoxville (or The University of Tennessee; UT; UT Knoxville; or colloquially UTK or Tennessee) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Knoxville, Tennessee, United St ...

. After finishing his education, Alexander moved to

where he became a professor of veterinary medicine at

(OSU). In 1985, Alexander was promoted as the Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine for OSU. He would remain in that position for the next sixteen years. In 2001, Alexander was selected as the Interim Vice-president for Research and External Relations for OSU. He served in that capacity until 2003 when he was appointed to the dual position of Director of External and Legislative Affairs and President of the Center for Innovation and Economic Development.

Secretary of Science

Following the election of

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (Cyprus) (DCY) **Democratic Part ...

in the 2002 Oklahoma gubernatorial election, Alexander served as a member of Henry's transition team. In 2004, Governor Henry appointed Alexander as his Secretary of Science and Technology. As the Secretary, Alexander oversees all efforts by the State government to use science and technology to improve government and to better serve the citizens of Oklahoma. In particular, Alexander works with the Secretary of Commerce and Tourism to promote economic development throughout the State. As Secretary, Alexander has primary supervision over the

Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology The Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST) is the agency of the government of Oklahoma that is responsible for technology-based economic development. Under the supervision of the Oklahoma Secretary of Science and I ...

References

External links

Oklahoma Governor's Cabinet
1947 births Living people State cabinet secretaries of Oklahoma American veterinarians Oklahoma State University faculty {{Oklahoma-politician-stub