ARRUPE COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS

Michèle Alexandre 

JD • Dean, School of Law, Loyola University Chicago

Michèle Alexandre is a legal scholar, academic leader, and advocate for equity and access who serves as Dean of the School of Law at Loyola University Chicago. A nationally respected lawyer and educator, they are known for their collaborative leadership style and deep commitment to justice, service, and community connection. 

Before joining Loyola, Alexandre served as Dean and Professor of Law at Stetson University College of Law, where they led efforts to expand the curriculum, strengthen alumni engagement, and foster community partnerships. Under their leadership, Stetson raised more than $20 million for scholarships and capital projects, launched a new business law concentration, and achieved its highest first-time Florida Bar pass rate since 2016. 

Earlier in their career, Alexandre was Associate Dean for Faculty Development and Intellectual Life at the University of Mississippi School of Law, where they supported faculty scholarship, interdisciplinary programming, and community engagement. A former civil rights attorney, they litigated discrimination cases in Selma, Alabama, including both iterations of the historic Black Farmers class action litigation. Their scholarship spans constitutional law, international law, civil rights, disability law, critical race theory, human rights, and gender. 

Alexandre’s leadership reflects a belief in dialogue across communities and institutions, emphasizing collaboration, inclusion, and a shared commitment to public service. Their work aligns with Loyola’s Jesuit mission of preparing ethical advocates for justice in a diverse world. 

Alexandre earned a Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, from Colgate University and a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School.