Taifha Natalee Alexander teaches courses on Education, Critical Race Theory, Enslavement, and Law at UCLA School of Law and University of Southern California Gould School of Law. Alexander’s academic scholarship and legal research lies at the intersection of law, critical race studies, higher education, social justice, and equity. As the inaugural CRT Forward Project Director at UCLA School of Law’s Critical Race Studies Program she focuses on using data analysis, legal scholarship and policymaking to combat the spread of misinformation and restrictive measures against critical race theory (CRT). Her impactful work has been recognized by NPR, LAist, The New York Times, NBC, The Guardian, TIME, Associated Press, The Chicago Tribune, and other prestigious outlets. She has also been invited to speak at several prominent convenings including SXSW EDU, American Association of University Professors Biennial Meeting, NAACP Thurgood Marshall Institute Pro-Truth Labs, American Constitution Society Meeting and Democratic Attorney General Association Convening.

Alexander received her B.S. magna cum laude in Legal Studies from St. John’s University in Queens, NY, her J.D. with honors distinction from Georgetown University Law Center, and her LL.M. with a specialization in Critical Race Studies from UCLA School of Law, where she ranked first in her graduating class. Her commitment to equity, justice, and antiracism has been a driving force throughout her academic and professional career – a commitment instilled in her by her late mother, Merdith Rowe.

Notable contributions by Alexander include "We Can’t Breathe: How Top Law Schools Can Resuscitate an Inclusive Climate," featured in the Georgetown Journal of Modern Critical Race Perspectives, and "Chopped & Screwed: Hip-Hop from Cultural Expression to Criminal Enforcement," in the Harvard Journal of Sports and Entertainment Law. Her recent book chapter in Revising the Curriculum and Co-Curriculum to Engage Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (2023) underscores the importance of fostering an antiracist college environment. In recognition of her innovative contributions and scholarly impact, Alexander was honored as an Emerging Scholar by Diverse: Issues in Higher Education in 2024. This prestigious recognition celebrates influential academics under age 40 for their accomplishments and impact in academia.