Academy educator selected to become permanent professor

  • Published
  • By Ray Bowden
  • U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  Pending Congressional confirmation later this year, the Dean of Faculty's director of staff is slated become a permanent professor.

Gen. Andrew Armacost, Dean of the Faculty, announced the secretary of defense approved Col. Jennifer Alexander's nomination for permanent professor earlier this month.

Confirmation could occur in November or December, Alexander said.

"I'm incredibly honored and humbled to be nominated and selected because I have such great respect for my fellow candidates," said Alexander, also an Economics and Geosciences Department professor. "I think I even asked 'really?' when I was told. I feel incredibly lucky to have this opportunity."

Alexander has been on the Dean of Faculty staff since 2011. She's served as director of meteorology for the DFEG, the director of the prior-dean's Commanders Action Group, and is now the dean's director of staff.

The selection to permanent professor motivates Alexander to work harder, she said.

"I've learned so much but when I look at our permanent professors here, I know I still have so much to learn and contribute," she said.

Alexander said teaching drives her passion for learning.

"I can't describe how wonderful I feel after my Synoptic Meteorology class, when my cadets are as 'geeked out' on the weather as I am," she said. "I love the hallway conversations with fellow professors about how to improve our classes, and I greatly benefit from the Center for Educational Excellence and Scholarship of Teaching and Learning seminars, helping faculty better our teaching. I want my cadets to push themselves and be lifelong learners, so I do my best to set that example."

The selection to permanent professor effectively ends the possibility of an assignment change for Alexander and her husband, Tom Fritz, she said.  

"Tom and I are always open to any assignment and there were a few possibilities we were working for a potential permanent change of station next summer," Alexander said. "Now we're thrilled to be staying in Colorado Springs for many more years. We see this as one more adventure and look forward to making the most of it."

Alexander said she's fortunate to return to DFEG.

"I can't overstate this," she said. "We're a very unique department supporting five different majors, and I can't wait for Congressional confirmation so I can return 'home' to Economic and Geosciences."

Armacost said Alexander is "the perfect leader and educator" to become the Academy's next permanent professor.

"Her nomination and ultimately, her selection for this position, is the result of years of hard work and her love of learning and dedication to our mission of developing leaders," he said. "I know she will excel as a permanent professor and set the bar for others to follow."