Mirron "Mike" Alexandroff was born on Chicago's South Side in 1923 to educators Norman and Cherrie (Phillips) Alexandroff. When his father, Columbia College president Norman Alexandroff died in 1960, he became president of the College in 1961, taking over at a time when the College was struggling and enrollment was low. He utilized Chicago area media professionals as instructors, geared curriculum more firmly toward the arts and media, pushed for higher minority enrollments, and made upper education accessible to all with policies such as open enrollment. With this new vision, the College grew from less than 200 students to more than 7.000 and physically moved from a one-floor school to one of the largest South Loop landowners. He served as chair of the Chicago Metropolitan Higher Education Council, 1981- 1990; a member of the Advisory Committee of the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, 1985-1992; and president of the Grant Park Cultural & Educational Community, 1985-1992. He was a recipient of the Sydney R. Yates Advocacy award, 1991; the Clarence Darrow award for leading service in cause of social justice, 1984; a Distinguished Urban Fellow award from the Association of Urban Universities, 1992; an Outstanding Contributor to Latin American TV award from the Mexico National Association of Broadcasters, 1980. He received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from DePaul University in 1992.