JMU taps Rutgers VP as next university president

By: Times-Dispatch Staff | From staff and wire reports
Published: November 29, 2011

HARRISONBURG --

James Madison University's board of visitors tapped the senior vice president of Rutgers University on Monday to become the school's sixth president, ending an 11-month search.

Jonathan Alger was named to JMU's top post on Monday. He will replace JMU President Linwood Rose, who is retiring in June. Rose, who came to JMU as assistant director of residence halls in 1975, has been president since 1998.

"We desired a leader who values our student-centered focus, emphasis on teaching and is committed to the full development of the individual," JMU Rector James Hartman said in a written statement. "Today, in Jon Alger we feel we have found the individual who best encompasses such values and is well positioned to lead our university into the next century."

Alger is a graduate of Harvard Law School and Swarthmore College. Before coming to Rutgers, Alger was assistant general counsel at the University of Michigan and worked as counsel for the American Association of University Professors.

Alger also served as general counsel at Rutgers. In an acceptance speech, Alger said JMU can serve as a national model for what it means for a university to be fully engaged with ideas and the world in the 21st century.

"I believe that James Madison himself would proudly embrace the university's theme, 'Be the Change,' reflecting how members of the Madison community are being prepared to lead meaningful and productive lives and to be agents of change in the world," Alger said.

JMU is a public university in Harrisonburg with about 20,000 students. During Rose's term, enrollment has grown by 37 percent. The university offers 69 undergraduate, 31 master's and seven doctoral degrees.