BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Alex J. Packer, Ph.D., author, educator and developmental psychologist, is president and chief executive officer of FCD Educational Services. Founded in 1976 and headquartered in Boston, FCD is the leading nonprofit provider of onsite K-12 alcohol and drug prevention services for schools in the United States and around the world.

Dr. Packer is the author of the award-winning bestsellers, How Rude! The Teenager’s Guide to Good Manners, Proper Behavior, and Not Grossing People Out, and Bringing Up Parents: The Teenager’s Handbook. His other books include 365 Ways to Love Your Child, Parenting One Day at a Time, and The Nurturing Parent: How to Raise Creative, Loving, Responsible Children. His articles have appeared in McCall’s, Child Magazine , U.S. News and World Report, and The Harvard Graduate School of Education Bulletin. Alex’s latest book, HIGHS! Over 150 Ways to Feel Really, REALLY Good Without Alcohol or Other Drugs, was named Outstanding Book of the Year by the Independent Publishers Association, and received the Gold Award for Children’s Resources from the National Parenting Publications. Alex’s books have been translated into German, Spanish, and Chinese. Three new etiquette books in the How Rude! series will be published this fall for younger readers.

For eight years, Alex was headmaster of Parkmont School in Washington , D.C. , an innovative alternative school for children ages 11-15. He also served as Director of Education for the Capital Children’s Museum. A specialist in adolescence, substance abuse, and parent education, Alex holds undergraduate and Master’s degrees from Harvard University , and a Ph.D. in Educational and Developmental Psychology from Boston College .

Alex has served as a member of the Authors Advisory Council of the Hazelden Foundation, a leader for over 50 years in providing information, education, and recovery services to individuals, families, schools and communities. He has appeared on numerous television and radio shows, and is sought after by reporters and media personalities for his opinions on etiquette, parenting, adolescent development, and substance abuse prevention.

Alex’s feature-length screenplay, Digby and Fly, won First Prize in the Massachusetts Film Office Screenwriting Competition and was optioned by a leading Australian director. Popular Arts Entertainment in Los Angeles optioned his proposal for an interactive family television series.

Alex has an art deco era home in Paris that he visits as often as possible.