Alumni Profile: Stephen Alder

Green Templeton alumnus Stephen Alder (Executive MBA, 2020) is Tenured Professor of Family and Preventive Medicine at the University of Utah with an extensive background in public and global health. He is currently resident in Ghana with time apportioned to serve as the inaugural President of Ensign Global College, while retaining duties in Utah as Executive Director of the newly launched Center for Business, Health, and Prosperity at the David Eccles School of Business.

Stephen reflects on his experience as a student, engaging as an alumnus and his life and career to date:

Reading for an EMBA at Oxford was part of a career transition where I was interested in integrating business principles and practices with public and global health. Green Templeton was the natural college of choice to support my efforts and to connect me to a community seeking to likewise bring together fields and disciplines to positively impact life quality around the world. While exploring my fit with Oxford I was able to connect with college leaders, scholars, and students who graciously welcomed my inquiries and were encouraging of my educational aspirations. Green Templeton continued to be a supportive resource throughout my academic program.

The community brings together a cross-disciplinary academic community that provides a rich and inclusive environment for enhancing the Oxford experience. Because it is relatively new [having only existed in its current form since a merger in 2008], members of the college are instrumental in shaping its traditions and future direction. Green Templeton also provides a setting where college members are known and valued.

As a recent graduate, I am now beginning to explore options open to alumni to maintain their engagement and I have been pleased to continue my engagement, which has included working to access programming that is available for continued professional and academic development.

Due to pandemic restrictions, much of my time as a reader was experienced through distance technology. However, when circumstances allowed, I was able to attend events where engaging conversations ranged from those with senior scholars who were world experts to fellow postgraduate students who were energised with the excitement of academic discovery. I have always found Green Templeton to be a serene setting that beckons the mind to reach for greater knowledge, deeper understanding, and expanded capacity for having a positive impact.

I read for my EMBA at Oxford and became a member of Green Templeton College later in my professional career. I am a Tenured Professor of Family and Preventive Medicine at the University of Utah (US) with an extensive background in public and global health. I am currently resident in Ghana where I have time apportioned to serve as the inaugural President of Ensign Global College. I retain duties in the US where I am the Executive Director of the newly launched Center for Business, Health, and Prosperity at the David Eccles School of Business. I have an extensive record of peer-reviewed publications and have secured several million dollars of grant funding throughout my career. I have received multiple teaching awards and academic honours, including the Perlman Award for Excellence by the University of Utah Alumni Association and being appointed to the Framing the Future Task Force by the US-based Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health. I have held numerous other administrative and leadership roles at the University of Utah, including President of the Academic Senate, Chief of Public Health, and Vice Chair of Family and Preventive Medicine. I frequently provide consultation to academic institutions and organisations focused on health and development around the world.

I am currently working on developing a public-private model for bringing basic health resources to remote, underserved communities throughout the world as a social enterprise using social franchising. The franchise is called Health 2 Go and is a sustainable and scalable vehicle for a distributed basic healthcare system for under-developed and emerging market countries.

Outside of work I enjoy many outdoor activities, including running, hiking, cycling and mountain biking, swimming, and alpine skiing. I try to spend time at the beach whenever possible. I enjoy good stories whether delivered in-person, through books, or through film. I have become increasingly interested in world history, learning about art and architecture, and visiting museums whenever possible. I am always up for a good walk, especially when accompanied by a good conversationalist.

All that said, my greatest life achievement has been, along with my wife Gena, to play a role in raising three wonderful children who have all grown up to be absolutely remarkable.