Mathematics

Celebrating the life of Dr. Alex White

Dr. Alexander White, Associate Chair of the Department of Mathematics and Professor of Statistics at Texas State University, passed away on January 30, 2025. A dedicated educator, mentor, and collaborator, Dr. White’s academic journey began with a PhD in Statistics from Michigan State University. He also earned both his MS in Statistics and BS in Chemistry from the University of Texas at El Paso. Dr. White joined American University in 2000 before joining Texas State University in Fall 2005 as an Assistant Professor of Statistics. As a proud bobcat, he dedicated nearly two decades of service to the institution. He served as a Doctoral Program Advisor in Mathematics Education for 12 years, mentoring over 30 PhD students, 10 master’s students, 2 undergraduate honors theses, and many junior faculty. His university-wide service includes his roles as Chair of the Nontenure Line Faculty Committee (2015-2017), Assessment Coordinator for the Departmental General Education Assessment (2019-present), Chair of the Faculty Senate (2017-2019), and active member of the Developmental Education Advisory Committee, General Education Council, and QEP Leadership Team. Most recently, Dr. White’s leadership was instrumental in the approval of the newest Mathematics doctoral program, a lifelong goal of his. For his outstanding dedication to the university, Dr. White has received 7 Teaching, Research, and Service Awards. 

However, his impact extended far beyond the university, where he became a trusted collaborator and mentor in the larger mathematics and statistics education community. He worked closely with Texas Mathworks, developing curricula, facilitating professional development for educators, and mentoring over 25 high school students on summer research projects. Dr. White contributed his expertise in test development, sample selection, and evaluation to several global organizations. His scholarly work in mathematics and statistics education included research on innovative statistical analysis for mathematics education settings, the role of technology in teaching geometry, the use of visualization in the classroom, and the integration of real-world applications into statistical education. He was also a co-author of a widely used middle school Algebra I textbook. Dr. White’s legacy lives on in the countless students, colleagues, and educators whose lives he touched. His commitment to academic excellence and unwavering dedication to his students have left a lasting mark on Texas State University and the broader academic community.

Alex is survived by his wife of 32 years, Alejandra, and two daughters, Isabel and Sofia.

In lieu of flowers or food, the family requests donations be made to a scholarship that has been established in his name, allowing us to give back in recognition of his immense contributions.  Alexander White Statistics Fellowship.  When making a gift, please manually search for his program in the ‘search for other Texas State University programs' section.

A Celebration of Life for Dr. Alexander White was held on Sunday, February 16 at 3:00 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center Recital Hall.