Email This PageJonathan Alger ’86
Jonathan Alger ’86 became the president of James Madison University (JMU) in Harrisonburg, Va., in July after
a comprehensive 11-month search. He is the sixth president in JMU’s 105-year history. Previously, Alger was the senior vice president and general counsel at Rutgers University, where he managed all legal affairs and played a major role in diversity, ethics, compliance, governance, biomedical education, administrative restructuring, campus safety, and athletics.
As the former assistant general counsel at the University of Michigan, Alger played a key role in the university’s two landmark Supreme Court cases involving diversity and admissions and brought together one of the largest amicus brief coalitions in court history. He has advised colleges nationally on topics such as diversity, academic freedom, due process, and tenure.
Alger has served as president of the National Association of College and University Attorneys and on advisory boards for the Association of American Universities and other higher-education organizations.
