Through her writing and speaking, Alexandra Hudson is helping a fractured culture see that civility can heal, restore, and point us back to what is true.
On Sept. 12, 2025, the lights of Trinity Western University glowed across the Langley campus as guests gathered for the annual Alumni Awards. The room hushed as Alexandra “Lexi” Hudson (’14, BA History) was called to the stage. Applause rose, warm and sustained, as she stepped forward to receive the Think Truthfully Alumni Award, a recognition not only of her work but of her life’s mission.
“It felt like everything had come full circle,” she said afterward. For her, the moment was an invitation to look back and trace the line from the classrooms where she first wrestled with life’s biggest questions to the public square where she now calls others into thoughtfulness.
A Childhood of Wonder
Alexandra's story traces back to a kitchen table where every plate had its place and curiosity had room to grow.
“Growing up, wonder and learning was a way of life,” she said. “My mom would say, this is how we set the table, and I always wanted to know why. Why do we do things the way we do them? I was just primed to question everything.”
Those questions became part of her identity and opened doors that would one day lead her to ask philosophers and theologians why the world is the way it is. By the time she reached university age, she said, “it was a foregone conclusion” that she would attend TWU. She longed for a place where questions were not silenced but welcomed, where curiosity was treated as a virtue.
Faith Meets the Life of the Mind
That sense of searching found direction in Professor Calvin Townsend's class, Introduction to Political Thinking 101. Through engaging with the writings of foundational political thinkers, Alexandra began to explore deeper questions about how intellectual inquiry could coexist with personal Christian belief. The course opened space for her to consider how interpretation and faith might interact, and she came away with a clearer understanding that it's Christ who truly anchors her identity.
“It was like balm to my soul,” Alexandra said. “I didn’t have to have it all figured out. My faith could hold questions without collapsing.”
“Lexi examines how civility—a respect for the personhood and dignity of others—transcends political disagreements,” said Townsend, reflecting on the student he once taught and the author she has become.
Alexandra referenced this moment again in her acceptance speech, calling it formative and saying it taught her that doubt was not the end of faith but part of its honour.
The Big Break
After graduation, Alexandra carried that confidence into Washington, D.C. “Soon after I graduated, I took a role in [US] federal government. This was my big break,” she said.
But the reality she encountered surprised her. “I was surrounded by people who were well-mannered and polished but ruthless and cruel.”
It was a clarifying moment. Civility, she realized, was not the same as politeness. True civility had to run deeper, rooted in the recognition of the image of God in every person.
Writing as a Response
Rather than withdraw from public life, Alexandra began to write.
“We live in a deeply dehumanizing time,” she said. “I wrote my book as an antidote. Civility is a disposition of the heart. It is seeing the image of God in others and saying I owe them a bare minimum of respect.”
Her book The Soul of Civility: Timeless Principles to Heal Society and Ourselves became a call to action for a culture increasingly at odds with itself. The message resonated widely, sparking a 50-city tour and conversations across lecture halls, churches, and town halls around the world.
Teacher & Bridge-Builder
Alexandra's work has continued to grow. She created the Wondrium course, Storytelling and the Human Condition, taught at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, and founded Civic Renaissance, a global community of more than 50,000 readers who explore truth, goodness, and beauty together.
“What’s true for me now is that I love to learn and I love to share what I’m learning,” she said.
At home in Indianapolis, Alexandra and her husband are restoring a historic house, peeling back layers of paint and repairing what is broken. The careful work has become a metaphor for her vocation.
Reflecting on this, she remarked, “Each wall we repair is like an act of defiance against decay. Restoration is possible. Society can be rebuilt, one act of courage, one conversation at a time.”
Story by Netanya Castillo.
About TWU Alumni
We invite our alumni community to continue to participate in the life of the University. Our desire is to nurture an engaged and flourishing global community of alumni by cultivating meaningful relationships and creating engaging alumni experiences. Learn more at TWU Alumni.
About Trinity Western University
Founded in 1962, Trinity Western University is a global Christian liberal arts university dedicated to equipping students for life. Uniting faith and reason through Christian teaching and scholarship, TWU is a research institution offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in the humanities and sciences as well as in several professional schools. It has campuses in Canada in Langley, Richmond, and Ottawa. Learn more at www.twu.ca or follow us on Instagram @trinitywestern, Twitter @TrinityWestern, on Facebook and LinkedIn. For media inquiries, please contact: media@twu.ca.