Alexis’ research is situated in France and lies at the intersection of critical race theory and the anthropology of religion. He is a recipient of the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (NSF-GRFP) and the Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship. At the University of Chicago, his research has been supported by the France-Chicago Center and the Center for the Study of Race, Politics, and Culture.

Alexis earned his B.A. in Sociocultural Anthropology and Middle East/South Asia Studies from the University of California, Davis, where he received the Suad Joseph Undergraduate Student Research Award. Alexis also holds an M.A. in Sociocultural Anthropology from the University of Chicago.