Mike Alexandroff
Template:TOCnestleft Mirron "Mike" Alexandroff (born 1923, died April 20, 2001)
Early Life, Education & Family
Alexandroff was born on Chicago’s South Side in 1923 to educators Norman and Cherrie (Phillips) Alexandroff. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1947 from Roosevelt University and from Columbia College Chicago with a Masters of Arts degree in 1948.
From 1942 until 1945 he served as a sergeant in the US Army in the South Pacific, and upon discharge, married Anna Avgerin (died, 1996), and took a position as psychologist in Columbia College’s Psychological Guidance Center, an independent agency for the Veterans Administration, later becoming its manager. His family grew with the birth of two daughters, Niki and Pam.
When Anna died in 1961, he married Jane Legnard in 1962, a College employee since the late 1950s. They had a son, Norman. Jane later established the Chicago Artists Abroad program at the College in 1987 that sent local artists to foreign countries but who lacked the funding to travel. This program ended with the retirement of the Alexandroffs in 1992.[1]
Columbia College
Alexandroff served as President of Columbia College, Chicago from 1961 – 1992. He became the president of the college following the death of the former president, his father, Norman Alexandroff who died in 1960. He utilized Chicago area media professionals as instructors, geared curriculum more firmly toward the arts and media, pushed for higher minority enrollments, and made upper education accessible to all with policies such as open enrollment. With this new vision, the College grew from less than 200 students to more than 7,000 and physically moved from a one-floor school to one of the largest South Loop landowners. During his tenure, the College received accreditation from North Central Association Higher Learning Commission in 1974 and established a graduate division in 1981 which was accredited in 1984. He also purchased the first College building in 1976, later named the Alexandroff Campus Center in his honor.[1]
American Veterans Committee
Mike Alexandroff was a member of the American Veterans Committee along with Ed Morris (who he met in 1947) and Erwin Salk.[2]
Illinois Public Action
In 1995 Mike Alexandroff was a member of the board of directors of Illinois Public Action.[3]
Citizen Action of Illinois
In 1997 Mike Alexandroff served on the board of directors of Citizen Action of Illinois.[4]
Paul Robeson 100th Birthday Committee
In 1998 Mike Alexandroff was listed as a volunteer and intern of Paul Robeson 100th Birthday Committee.[5]
Advocacy
Alexandroff served as chair of the Chicago Metropolitan Higher Education Council from 1981- 1990. He was a member of the Advisory Committee of the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs from 1985–1992. He served as president of the Grant Park Cultural & Educational Community from 1985-1992.[1]
Awards & Honors
Alexandroff was a recipient of the Sydney R. Yates Advocacy award in 1991; the Clarence Darrow award for leading service in cause of social justice in 1984; a Distinguished Urban Fellow award from the Association of Urban Universities in 1992, and an Outstanding Contributor to Latin American TV award from the Mexico National Association of Broadcasters in 1980. He also received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from DePaul University in 1992. In honor of his memory, May 1, 2002 was declared ‘Mirron “Mike” Alexandroff Day’ by Proclamation from the Illinois Governor’s Office.[1]
Publications
- A Different Drummer
References
- ↑ Jump up to: 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Columbia College Library website: Biography of Mike Alexandroff
- ↑ Interview with Ed Morris, unknown date
- ↑ IPA 20th Anniversary Dinner leaflet
- ↑ Citizen Action of Illinois B.O.D. list
- ↑ http://www.cpsr.cs.uchicago.edu/robeson/links/chicago/ack_org6.html