Jonathan R. Alger

Alger graduated from Swarthmore College, where he received his B.A. with high honors in political science with a history minor and a concentration in public policy as a member Phi Beta Kappa. He earned his Juris Doctor with honors from Harvard Law School.{{cite web|last1=Gnagey|first1=Laurel Thomas|title=The legal team: Jonathan Alger|url=http://www.ur.umich.edu/0203/June16_03/08_alger.shtml|date=2003-06-16|website=The University Record Online|publisher=University of Michigan|access-date=2014-11-11}}

Before becoming president at JMU, Alger was the senior vice president and general counsel at Rutgers University. Before working at Rutgers, Alger served as assistant general counsel at the University of Michigan, where he played a key role.{{cite web|title=Perspective, Reflections on Institutional Leadership|url=http://www.nacacnet.org/issues-action/LegislativeNews/Documents/College%20Board%20ADC%20Issue%20Brief%20v1%20-%20Institutional%20Leadership.pdf|pages=2–5|publisher=National Association for College Admission Counseling|access-date=2014-11-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024142255/http://www.nacacnet.org/issues-action/LegislativeNews/Documents/College%20Board%20ADC%20Issue%20Brief%20v1%20-%20Institutional%20Leadership.pdf|archive-date=2014-10-24|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|last1=Reed|first1=Nick|title=Attorney in Michigan case speaks on importance of affirmative action|url=http://thelantern.com/2003/04/attorney-in-michigan-case-speaks-on-importance-of-affirmative-action/|date=2003-04-24|newspaper=The Lantern|access-date=2014-11-11}} 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.{{cite web|title=Grutter and Gratz: Amicus Briefs|url=http://www.vpcomm.umich.edu/admissions/legal/amicus.html|website=University of Michigan Admissions Lawsuits|access-date=2014-11-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140713093145/http://www.vpcomm.umich.edu/admissions/legal/amicus.html|archive-date=2014-07-13|url-status=dead}} 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.{{cite news|last1=Ostby|first1=Kristin|title='U' lawyer leaving for Rutgers position|url=http://www.michigandaily.com/content/u-lawyer-leaving-rutgers-position|date=2004-10-06|newspaper=The Michigan Daily|publisher=University of Michigan|access-date=2014-11-11}}

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.{{cite web|title=Search Results: Alger|url=http://www.aaup.org/search/node/alger|publisher=American Association of University Professors|access-date=2014-11-18}} 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.

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.{{cite news|last1=Anderson|first1=Nick|title=JMU president versed in civil rights law|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/jmu-president-versed-in-civil-rights-law/2014/09/26/5624389a-45af-11e4-b47c-f5889e061e5f_story.html|date=2014-09-26|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=2014-11-11}} 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.{{Cite web |title=Alger continues commitment to Campus Democracy Challenge |url=https://www.jmu.edu/news/president/2024/22-alger-all-in.shtml |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=www.jmu.edu |language=en}}

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.

On March 18, 2024, American University announced Alger's appointment as the university's 16th president.{{Cite web |title=BREAKING: Jonathan Alger named 16th president of American University - The Eagle |url=https://www.theeagleonline.com/article/2024/03/breaking-jonathan-alger-named-16th-president-of-american-university |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=www.theeagleonline.com |language=en}} 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 the Sun Belt Conference), and student programs (a new first time student scholarship, and the Madison Center for Civic Engagement launched).{{Cite news |last=Svrluga |first=Susan |date=2024-03-18 |title=American University names new president: Jonathan Alger of JMU |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2024/03/18/american-university-president-jonathan-alger/ |access-date=2024-03-25 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}

Current appointments:

• Board Member, Division I Board of Directors for the National Collegiate Athletic Association{{cite web|title=Agenda: National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Presidential Advisory Group|url=https://www.ncaa.org/sites/default/files/PAG%20materials%2010.29.14.pdf|page=3|publisher=NCAA|access-date=2014-11-11}}
• Board Member, American Association of Colleges & Universitieshttps://www.aacu.org/about/board

Past appointments:

• President, Board of Directors of the National Association of College and University Attorneys{{cite web|title=Persons Who Have Served on the NACUA Executive Board/Board of Directors|url=http://www.nacua.org/aboutnacua/board/pastboard.pdf|publisher=National Association of College and University Attorneys|access-date=2014-11-11}}
• Board Member, The American Bar Association’s Accreditation Committee
• Board Member, The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute's Advisory Council at the National Institutes of Health{{cite web|title=National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council|url=http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/about/committees/nhlbac/2014-03-minutes.htm|date=2014-03-04|publisher=National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute|access-date=2014-11-11}}

• {{cite journal |last1=Alger |first1=Jonathan R. |title=A supreme challenge: Achieving the educational and societal benefits of diversity after the Supreme Court's Fisher decision. |journal=Journal of Diversity in Higher Education |date=Sep 2013 |volume=6 |issue=3 |pages=147–154 |doi=10.1037/a0034355}}
• {{cite journal|last1=Alger|first1=Jonathan R.|title=From Desegregation to Diversity and beyond: Our Evolving Legal Conversation on Race and Higher Education|journal=Journal of College & University Law|date=April 2010|volume=36|issue=3|page=983|url=http://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/jcolunly36&div=32&id=&page=|access-date=11 November 2014}}
• {{cite journal|last1=Alger|first1=Jonathan R.|title=Colleges Must Be Forearmed with Effective Policies on Weapons|journal=Chronicle of Higher Education|date=June 2008|volume=54|issue=39|page=A32|url=http://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ801446|access-date=2014-11-11}}
• {{cite journal|last1=Alger|first1=Jonathan R.|title=Effective Practices for Academic Leaders|journal=Legal Issues for Academic Leaders|date=June 2008|volume=3|issue=2|page=16}}
• {{cite journal|last1=Alger|first1=Jonathan R.|title=Putting the Michigan Rulings Into Practice.|journal=Chronicle of Higher Education|date=February 2005|page=B28|url=http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/507971949|access-date=2014-11-11}}
• {{cite journal|last1=Alger|first1=Jonathan R.|last2=Krislov|first2=Marvin|title=You've Got to Have Friends: Lessons Learned from the Role of Amici in the University of Michigan Cases|journal=Journal of College and University Law|date=2004|volume=30|pages=503–506|url=http://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/jcolunly30&div=21&id=&page=|access-date=2014-11-11}}

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.{{cite web|last1=Woodroof|first1=Martha|title=The Spark: Mary Ann Alger|url=http://wmra.org/post/mary-ann-alger|date=2014-03-21|publisher=WMRA|access-date=2014-11-11}}

Alger has sung with acclaimed choral groups that have toured internationally, made professional recordings and performed on national television.{{cite news|last1=Parker|first1=Alison|title=Q&A: President-Elect Jon Alger's agenda|url=http://www.breezejmu.org/news/article_04ffc880-55ed-11e1-8a38-001a4bcf6878.html|date=2012-02-12|newspaper=The Breeze|publisher=James Madison University|access-date=2014-11-11}} Additionally, he used to play trombone.{{cite news|last1=Graves|first1=Eric|title=A JMU President's Past|url=https://www.breezejmu.org/news/a-jmu-president-s-past/article_f918ed26-babb-11e4-9e19-238da392baed.html|date=2015-02-22|newspaper=The Breeze|publisher=James Madison University|access-date=2018-03-23}}

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