Full Bio
Dr. Robert Mossi Alexander is an award-winning filmmaker, educator, and founder of Hood to Higher Ed and Awkwaaba Academics. A proud son of East Oakland, Dr. Alexander turned his lived experience with incarceration and systemic injustice into a lifelong m
? Bio
Dr. Robert Mossi Alexander is a nationally recognized educator, award-winning documentary filmmaker, and justice-impacted scholar-activist. Raised in East Oakland, Dr. Alexander transformed his early experiences of systemic inequity and incarceration into a lifelong mission: to elevate, empower, and educate communities that have been historically marginalized.
He currently serves as a professor and counselor at a California community college, where he develops culturally relevant curriculum rooted in the lived experiences of Black and Brown students. As the founder of Hood to Higher Ed and Awkwaaba Academics, Dr. Alexander leads programs that bridge the gap between street knowledge and academic success, centering the voices of those most impacted by mass incarceration, educational neglect, and systemic injustice.
His latest documentary, Reclaiming Our Humanity, is a powerful exploration of the transformative journeys of six formerly incarcerated Black men who have not only reintegrated into society—but are now leading it. The film is a celebration of resilience, brotherhood, and the radical potential of education and self-determination. It’s a love letter to those who have been written off—and a challenge to the systems that did the writing.
Dr. Alexander's work has been featured at colleges, conferences, and community centers nationwide. His presentations combine scholarship, storytelling, and soul, sparking critical conversations and restorative solutions around incarceration, education, and healing.
Dr. Robert Mossi Alexander is a nationally recognized educator, award-winning documentary filmmaker, and justice-impacted scholar-activist. Raised in East Oakland, Dr. Alexander transformed his early experiences of systemic inequity and incarceration into a lifelong mission: to elevate, empower, and educate communities that have been historically marginalized.
He currently serves as a professor and counselor at a California community college, where he develops culturally relevant curriculum rooted in the lived experiences of Black and Brown students. As the founder of Hood to Higher Ed and Awkwaaba Academics, Dr. Alexander leads programs that bridge the gap between street knowledge and academic success, centering the voices of those most impacted by mass incarceration, educational neglect, and systemic injustice.
His latest documentary, Reclaiming Our Humanity, is a powerful exploration of the transformative journeys of six formerly incarcerated Black men who have not only reintegrated into society—but are now leading it. The film is a celebration of resilience, brotherhood, and the radical potential of education and self-determination. It’s a love letter to those who have been written off—and a challenge to the systems that did the writing.
Dr. Alexander's work has been featured at colleges, conferences, and community centers nationwide. His presentations combine scholarship, storytelling, and soul, sparking critical conversations and restorative solutions around incarceration, education, and healing.
