Jonathan Roberts Alger is an American lawyer and academic who is the president ofAmerican University.[1][2] Alger became the university's 16th president on July 1, 2024. He previously served asJames Madison University's sixth president from 2012 to 2024.[3][4]
Alger is also a legal scholar with expertise on higher education policy and law[5] and co-taught a seminar on leadership in the James Madison University Honors Program.[6][7]
Alger graduated fromSwarthmore College, where he received hisB.A. with high honors in political science with a history minor and a concentration in public policy with membership inPhi Beta Kappa. He then earned hisJuris Doctor (J.D.) withcum laude honors from Harvard Law School.[8]
Before becoming president at JMU, Alger was the senior vice president and general counsel atRutgers University. Before working at Rutgers, Alger served as assistant general counsel at theUniversity of Michigan, where he played a key role.[9][10] In the university’s efforts in two landmark Supreme Court cases on diversity and admissions he coordinated one of the largest amicus brief coalitions in Supreme Court history.[11] At both Rutgers and Michigan, he taught courses, seminars and independent studies in law, higher education and public policy. He has also taught interdisciplinary courses for graduate students in law, education, public policy and information.[5][12]
Prior to his time at University of Michigan, he served as counsel for the American Association of University Professors, where he advised institutions on policies, procedures and cases on issues such as academic freedom, shared governance, tenure, due process and discrimination.[13] Earlier in his career he served as attorney-advisor for the United States Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights. He also previously served as an associate in the law firm of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius.[4]
Because of Alger’s background in civil rights law, he has been credited with understanding the intricacies of how the Office for Civil Rights interprets and enforces Title IX.[14] Alger's track record promoting campus civic engagement has been positive. In 2018, Alger was one of the first recipients of the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge Standout Campus President Award. In February 2024, Alger was appointed to the initiative's President’s Council.[15]
While at JMU, President Alger declined to comment on a specific assault case, but acknowledged that he was concerned about public perceptions of the school and appeared in a video created by JMU to raise public awareness of the problem. He also promised in a letter to the university community that the institution would do everything in its power to help keep its students safe.[14]
On March 18, 2024, American University announced Alger's appointment as the university's 16th president.[16] On July 1, 2024, Alger succeeded Sylvia Burwell, who had served as the university's first female president since 2017. During his 12 years at JMU, the university had successes in funding (increase in external research funding, and doubled the endowment), sports (moved up to the highest level of football and joined theSun Belt Conference), and student programs (a new first time student scholarship, and the Madison Center for Civic Engagement launched).[17] To honor Alger's time as president at JMU, Spotswood Hall, located on JMU's historic quad, will be renamed Alger Hall. This change is set to happen in the fall of 2026.[18]
Alger, Jonathan R. (September 2013). "A supreme challenge: Achieving the educational and societal benefits of diversity after the Supreme Court's Fisher decision".Journal of Diversity in Higher Education.6 (3):147–154.doi:10.1037/a0034355.
Alger was born and raised outside Rochester, New York. His wife, Mary Ann, has a B.S. from Auburn University and an M.B.A. from the University of Miami. The Algers have a daughter named Eleanor.[23]
Alger has sung with acclaimed choral groups that have toured internationally, made professional recordings and performed on national television.[24] Additionally, he used to play trombone.[25]
