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Dean C. Alexander

Associate Professor and Director, Homeland Security Research Program

Stipes Hall 403H
Phone: 309/298-2120
E-mail: DC-Alexander@wiu.edu

Professor Alexander’s teaching, research, and speaking activities encompass terrorism, security, and legal issues. His professional experience includes: Director, International Business Development, Grant Thornton (Chile); In-House Counsel, Heron International (U.K.) and Bezeq Globe (Israel); Executive Director, The NAFTA Research Institute (U.S.); and Financial Advisor, UBS Financial Services (U.S.). He worked as a consultant to the State Department, World Bank, Organization of American States, homeland security firms and investment companies. He has lectured on terrorism, legal, and business subjects in Chile, Israel, Mexico, Panama, Romania, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, and Uruguay.  He has trained law enforcement personnel on terrorism/extremist-related issues in Arizona, California, Illinois, Oregon, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Professor Alexander is a member of the Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council Executive Board for the Central District of Illinois and Advisory Board of Security Magazine. He was a founding Advisory Council member of the Marsh Center for Risk Insights. In 2006, he received a grant from the State of Illinois to study homeland security and business issues. In December 2007, Security Magazine designated him as a “Top 25 Influential Person in the Security Industry.”

Professor Alexander’s eight books and ten law journal articles include: Business Confronts Terrorism: Risks and Responses (University of Wisconsin Press, 2004) and Terrorism and Business: The Impact of September 11, 2001 (Transnational, 2002) and “Maritime Terrorism and Legal Responses,” 19 Transportation Law Journal 453 (1991).

He has also published numerous peer-reviewed and other articles on terrorism, security, and law enforcement issues, including: “Student Projects Involving the Analysis of Websites of Extremist and Extremist-Affiliated Groups in the United States,” 6 Journal of Applied Security Research __ (Winter 2011); “Offline and Online Radicalization and Recruitment of Extremists and Terrorists,” Journal of Homeland Security (Sept. 2010); "The Creation of a U.S. Homeland Security Intelligence Academy," 4 Journal of Applied Security Research 518 (2009); “Police Enforcing U.S. Immigration Laws: Making the Case for the Use and Expansion of 287 (g),” Crime & Justice International (Nov. 2009); “Illinois Law Enforcement Perspectives on Homeland Security and Homeland Security Companies,” 9 Law Enforcement Executive Forum 67 (Mar. 2009); “The Role of Universities in Preparing the Next Generation of Security Professionals,” 4 Journal of Applied Security Research 101(Jan.-Mar. 2009); “The Risks of Business-Terrorist Group Liaisons and Lessons Learned,” 8 Law Enforcement Executive Forum 119 (May 2008); “Contemporary and Future Terrorism Arson Threats,” Security Magazine (Mar. 2008); “Terrorist Group Extortion and Challenges for Transnational Corporations,” Security Magazine (Feb. 2008); “Best Practices in Identifying Terrorists During Traffic Stops and on Calls for Service,” 23 Crime & Justice International 4 (July/Aug. 2007); “Secessionist Dangers in the United States,” Security Magazine (June 2007); “Sharing Yields Results,” Security Magazine (Mar. 2007); “Terror Attacks Against Law Enforcement Worldwide,” Police Chief Magazine (Feb. 2007); “Global Victimization of Law Enforcement by Terrorists,” 7 Law Enforcement Executive Forum 121 (Feb. 2007); “Terror Financing Methodologies and Societal Responses,” 5 Law Enforcement Executive Forum 109 (Nov. 2005); “Hotels Here Vulnerable to Amman-Style Terror Attacks,” Peoria Journal Star (Nov. 27, 2005); “Mass Transit Terror: Madrid & London: Is America Next?,” Security Magazine (Oct. 2005); “Defining the Public-Private Partnership on Terror,” Security Technology & Design (Dec. 2004); “Exposing Terrorists in the Economic System,” PI Magazine (Oct. 2004). His Op-Eds have appeared in various publications, such as: The Washington Times, Journal of Commerce and Security Magazine.

Professor Alexander earned law degrees from Georgetown University Law Center (LL.M., International & Comparative Law, 1991) and American University, Washington College of Law (J.D., 1990). He is a graduate of Georgetown University (B.A., 1986) and attended the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva, Switzerland (Diplome Program, 1986-87). He has been a member of the Bar since 1990.