HARRISONBURG, Va. (JMU) – James Madison University President Jonathan Alger announced on Monday, March 18, 2024, that he will be stepping down as president of JMU after the conclusion of the current academic year to accept the presidency at American University in Washington, D.C., effective July 1, 2024.

During Alger’s 12 years at JMU, the university has grown and evolved into a nationally recognized, student-centered research university. He has also helped oversee the football program’s transition from an FCS program to an FBS program and become a member of the Sun Belt Conference along the way.

The Executive Committee of the Board of Visitors will make a recommendation for an acting president to the full board for a formal vote over the coming weeks. The university’s Board of Visitors will then approve an acting president to start July 1, followed by the search process for the next president.