Alger leaving JMU to head American University

American University announced Monday that James Madison University President Jonathan Alger will be its next president, starting July 1. Alger joined the Harrisonburg public university in 2012.

Alger will be the 16th president of AU, a private university in Washington, D.C., replacing President Sylvia Burwell. During his tenure, JMU received R2 research classification from the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education, and the university joined the FBS level in NCAA Division I football. Alger launched the Valley Scholars program, which provides scholarships for first-generation students from the Shenandoah Valley. Also, JMU’s endowment more than doubled under Alger.

“Encouraging students to dream big is the heart of higher education, and the opportunity to join American University is a dream come true for me and my family. AU’s stellar academic profile and global impact reflect the unique and inspiring characteristics of the faculty, staff, students and alumni,” Alger said in a statement released by AU. “Returning to the Washington, D.C., region where our family has deep ties and collaborating with the AU community to create the next chapter of this great institution is an unparalleled opportunity.”

Alger previously was senior vice president and general counsel at Rutgers University and assistant general counsel at the University of Michigan. He chairs the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges and is vice chair of the American Association of Colleges and Universities. A graduate of Swarthmore College and Harvard Law School, Alger worked in the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights.

“President Alger elevated the university to a place far beyond where JMU has ever been. Under his leadership, we have turned the page into the next chapter of the history of JMU,” JMU Rector Maribeth Herod said in a statement. “JMU is no longer the hidden gem in the mountains because Jon has led us to national prominence and is leaving the university after accomplishing so much together. While Jon and Mary Ann will be missed immensely, the offerings at American University are a wonderful culmination of everything he is so passionate about.”

According to JMU, the Board of Visitors’ executive committee will recommend an acting president to the full board for a formal vote in coming weeks, and then the board will begin the search process for JMU’s next president.